Sunday, 18 November 2012
Just a thought: When Vesselina sings it, I feel like it's home again...
This aria from Mignon (Ambroise Thomas) is very famous, it was very popular in my mother's youth, sung at the end of family meals on great occasions. It is also sung in Marcel Pagnol's film ') the character while shaving, is singing this tune with a lovely baritone voice. Now, when I spend some time in Nice, it comes to my mind, and sung by Vesselina Kasarova, her rich cello voice moves me so deeply!
My gratitude to Forellensolo
In Nice, each time I stay there, this tune comes to my mind and I cannot help looking for what makes it so dear to me: the luxuriant vegetation when it is getting wintry inland, the mild weather, the peaceful atmosphere of the seafront, almost empty as the holiday makers are back to towns, memories of childhood?
The melody itself seems to retain the gentle sway of the waves under a soft breeze.
So yes, it could be my hometown, the land where the orange trees blossom...Last week in Nice... seen through my eyes,
and having switched on to Vesselina Kasarova's rendition 'Connaîs-tu le pays où fleurit l'oranger?
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I had almost forgotten what orange flowers look like! Almost thought them jasmine. :oD Nice looks nice enough from fotos, but with Vesselina's Mignon aria in my ears it seems almost nostalgic (and I've never been to Nice)! :o) Thanks a bunch for lovely images and thoughts for the night, Yvette.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful how you go with her singing pathos, too. A lot of French speakers seem unable to forgive her French diction and can't enjoy her singing in that language. I'm not a native speaker, so it's easy for me to ignore diction altogether. I love how she colors each words and phrases to express what the music makes her feel and see.
Smorgy! nice to read your thoughts and feelings on this precise aria! I do not mind her stressing syllables in a funny way, she has so many colours and musicality in her voice! I know she has annoyed some French audience but I do not care! I feel her voice like a true instrument and her mezzo voce is one of the best in this field. I will see her Venus along with Anja Harteros and it will bring me in a kind of paradise, because she has the sensitive touch on stage to the extent of sheer fun with her Ruggiero, the best one indeed!The begining here is a long soft bow on the cello, gently swaying... amazing! Glad you enjoyed it although it is not easy to try to express how I feel this...I should listen and shut up really!!!! And I can tell you she is not the only one doing -distortion with French!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous. For some reason it made me sad so I will come back again tomorrow and see if it is any different!
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