Au Mont Ida

As a diversion from the increasingly Manichean discussions on the forum regarding score reading ability, general reading ability, objectivity v subjectivity, the decline of western civilization and, for all I know, Croatia v the Outer Hebrides in whatever football competion is currently on, I spent an interesting half hour or so listening to several versions of this (to me) always uplifting ditty from La Belle Helene.

The Parises (? it's not often one needs a plural of Paris) were Joseph Calleja, Roberto Alagna, Remy Corazza, Yann Beuron, Nicolai Gedda, Andre Dran, Charles Burles and Jussi Bjorling. Needless to say, for me Bjorling was several universes beyond everyone else vocally (this has always been one of my demonstration records to play to deluded friends who've yet to acknowledge his eminence) but it has to be said that for all round charm - which the role surely calls for - the lesser known French singers did have it in abundance.