Landmark-II- Simon keenlyside- song 5-'Hotel'

Garnier recital: Feb the 12th.
Marvellous evening, full of charm, poetry and musicality.
An elegant team: Malcom Martineau with his wonderful pianoplaying, matching Simon's voice and insights in all the poems of this recital.
First part, in French, on Fauré's and Ravel's melodies,one of my favourite being:Le papillon et la fleur(Victor Hugo/ Fauré).
Second part: Schumann's Dichterliebe, with no applause in between( the audience was asked not to interrupt) A moving and passionate interpretation with soft and strong high notes when required. Fantastic 'Ich grolle nicht'!
Some swift little hand gestures showed Simon was nervous and tired at the end , but his generosity and the success of the evening(real ovation)made him sing five encore,four Schubert and one Brahms ending on:'"Der Wanderer an den Mond"

> encore: Der einsame:Schubert
> --------Wir wandelten:Brahms
> ---------Die sterne:Schubert
> ---------Nachtviolen:Schubert
> ---------Der wanderer an den mond:Schubert
_
I would have liked him to sing 'Hotel'like he did to end his Wigmore Hall recital. He explained gently after exclaiming' what a day!' that having sung the second part in German , it was difficult for him to go back to French.
So here's Hotel' I think he has the perfect attitude , so detached and charming for this melody, his french is beautiful!
British Elegance, Simon! And Malcom! (well, for his tie, it is not quite my cup of tea)
Concert will be broadcasted on Francemusique : 10.30am Friday February 26TH
http://players.tv-radio.com/radiofrance/playerfrancemusique.php