This second volume devoted to Massenet’s songs with orchestra completes the exploration of a repertoire long overshadowed by his operatic achievements, yet deeply connected to them. These mélodies unfold as miniature lyric scenes, where vocal line and orchestral colour interact with remarkable flexibility and expressive nuance. Two cycles stand at the heart of the programme: the Chansons des bois d’Amaranthe, with their shifting textures, unexpected use of piano within the orchestra, and alternation between operatic exuberance and inward reflection; and the late Expressions lyriques, whose bold interplay of sung and spoken declamation points towards a striking modernity, balancing intimacy with heightened drama. Around these cycles, individual songs illuminate Massenet’s gift for character, atmosphere, and melodic contour—whether in devotional simplicity, folk-like restraint, or sensuous lyric expansion. Throughout, the orchestral writing enriches rather than overwhelms the voice, lending transparency, colour, and a sense of theatrical space. Together, these works reveal a composer attentive to text, vocal inflection, and emotional pacing, shaping a world of lyrical expression that is varied, personal, and quietly adventurous.