La Solitude: The Songs of Barbara
Jessica Walker (mezzo), Joseph Atkins (piano), Megan Glover (saxophone), Solem Quartet
Walker brings these works to life with both tender intimacy and grit, performing songs in their original French as well as in new English versions - always translating the storytelling effectively....
La Solitude: The Songs of Barbara
Jessica Walker (mezzo), Joseph Atkins (piano), Megan Glover (saxophone), Solem Quartet
Purchase product
Walker brings these works to life with both tender intimacy and grit, performing songs in their original French as well as in new English versions - always translating the storytelling effectively....
About
Barbara, born Monique Serf in Paris in 1930, was one of twentieth century France’s most renowned singer-songwriters. Her most celebrated song, L’Aigle Noir, sold more than a million copies on the day of its release. Yet, despite huge fame during her lifetime, she is little known outside of her home country. This album, with new English versions of her songs by Jessica Walker, has been created to bring the potency of her words and music to an English audience for the first time. The songs, grappling with dark and complex events from Barbara’s life, are an unclassifiable mix of cabaret and art song, here, lovingly brought to life by a superb lineup of musicians.
Contents and tracklist
- Jessica Walker, Solem Quartet & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Solem Quartet
- Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker, Solem Quartet & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Solem Quartet
- Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker, Megan Glover & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Jessica Walker, Solem Quartet & Joseph Atkins, Jessica Walker (vocalist)
- Solem Quartet
Spotlight on this release
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Jessica Walker on Barbara
6th Aug 2026
The mezzo-soprano and writer discusses her new album La Solitude (out now on Resonus Classics) which celebrates the legacy of the iconic French singer-songwriter (1930-97) and seeks to bring her songs to new audiences through deft English translations.
Awards and reviews
November 2026
Walker brings these works to life with both tender intimacy and grit, performing songs in their original French as well as in new English versions - always translating the storytelling effectively. Sid'amour à mort, with Megan Glover's soaring saxophone solo and Joseph Atkins's deeply sensitive pianism, is stunning.
