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Title: Melodies Lyriques Post by: Neil McGowan on January 14, 2012, 05:35:44 pm The French art-song seems to be a rather neglected form these days?
Indeed, even speaking French at all today is now considered to be a character flaw, verging on treason? (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/republicans/9014259/US-election-2012-Mitt-Romney-attacked-by-Republican-rival-for-speaking-French.html) ??? By way of redressing the balance, here's a clip of the magnificent French baritone Gérard Souzay singing Duparc's melodie L'invitation au voyage (to Baudelaire's verse). I post this not only because it's such a marvellous performance... but also because I had never seen the video footage of this performance until today, and believed it existed only in an audio version. Perhaps an expert can confirm that it is indeed the well-known recording with Dalton Baldwin, and Baldwin is the (uncredited) pianist who appears in-shot in the clip? L'Invitation Au Voyage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pUQEyoHyrA&feature=g-vrec&context=G283d3a8RVAAAAAAAAAg) Would other members like to share favourite performances or pieces from this French art-song repertoire? :) Title: Re: Melodies Lyriques Post by: t-p on January 14, 2012, 07:01:01 pm I like Duparc the best and I accompanied it a few years ago.
But a few days ago there was interesting program about young Debussy starting his career and his affair with Blanche Vasnier, wife of a Parisian lawyer. They played several songs and I thought they were very good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GUCvoKI8RU I think I like Faure more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmU0XRjjWg Title: Re: Melodies Lyriques Post by: Neil McGowan on January 16, 2012, 02:07:33 pm Since Verlaine's poem SPLEEN has been (peripherally) mentioned on the Sorabji thread, I thought it would be worth posting Faure's marvellous setting of Verlaine's text - especially since there is - once again - a recording available by Gérard Souzay :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYZQOLlL8BI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYZQOLlL8BI) Title: Re: Melodies Lyriques Post by: t-p on January 16, 2012, 08:55:00 pm Thanks for that Neil.
I looked at Chausson. I don't really know his songs, but I listened to this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x66K2-FZJo Title: Re: Melodies Lyriques Post by: ahinton on January 16, 2012, 09:39:43 pm Thanks for that Neil. Along with Fauré, Debussy and Duparc, one of the great French song composers, without any doubt - one of the great French composers per se, indeed...I looked at Chausson. I don't really know his songs, but I listened to this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x66K2-FZJo |