Monday, 10 December 2012

Just a thought: Some time with Shirley Verrett.

Special day today: My grandaughter is 11, it seems impossible! Tonight I'll be listening to Nat Dessay and Michel Legrand in a crossover evening and I will be very happy, she will sing Claude Nougaro who belongs to my treasure box! My 'solitude' will come to an end as my better half was in Asia and is back tomorrow. So, will I feel much younger tonight at Marseille Opera House where I know I sat when I was very little... with my dear Mum ? When in Aix as a student, I remember going three times to the Cinema en plein air which was on the Cours Mirabeau when the weather was fine (late spring and summer), to enjoy 'Les parapluies de Cherbourg'. (I did exactly the same thing in London later on when the stunning 'West Side Story' was released.. but I had for excuse the language barrier!) Last night, I listened to Shirley Verrett on Youtube.Foropera channel where it is possible to hear her sing Gospel and some kind of Religious Hymns like this one. She is so good too. She could make me believe....
This Mahonia flower from the yard with a touch of snow (still lingering on roofs and shady lands)is alone in the Mistral today... sky is even too blue and icy. I guess this 2012 Christmas time we should be thousands to try to 'talk to God...if He can help...?
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4 comments:

  1. Smorg10 December 2012 at 21:04

    Great find, Yvette! :oD I have DVDs of her in Samson et Dalila and in Lady Macbeth. What fire she brings to her performances! Never listened to her doing spiritual music before, though. A real treat to start off the week with!

    I'm almost jealous of your snow! :o) We rarely ever see it in San Diego west of the mountains... but I shouldn't complain. The weather here has been very nice of late. So nice that I'm spending too much time out riding around on my bike and not getting any writing done! :oP

    Hope you are having a good December with good holiday cheers and lots of soulful music! :o)

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    1. yvette15 December 2012 at 18:38

      Dear Smorgy,
      yes, you are on your bike and I dread to think you are going up and down these awful roads ! At the moment I am banned from FB ( cannot link to it for obscure internet reasons I suppose) and today I had a wonderful friends' opera concert I missed because I am feeling a bit under the weather.Snow was a very short episode this year luckily because here it is chaos being South of France the equipmentis poor in such weather crisis!!!!!
      I could not help thinking about Shirley's cry in this song,when I heard the news from Connecticut

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  2. Willym11 December 2012 at 02:58

    But how can that be - an 11 year old granddaughter??? Is it possible to be a grandmother at 29? Sounds like its going to be an eventful few days and good ones.

    I'm heading to London for the Robert le diable - a long trip but when will I ever get another chance to see it???

    Happy reunion - happy concert - and happy memories.

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    1. yvette15 December 2012 at 18:03

      I wish you a wonderful and well sung Robert. and also a great journey to Britain! You are right about the question it is often in my mind too when I decide to travel for Opera or operas decide to make me travel:....Have a peaceful end of year and enjoy it ! Best wishes to you two.

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