It was a night to remember.( 3-10- 2103 Toulouse)
Not that I will not see Natalie Dessay again, but here in Nougaro 's family city, coming for what Natalie Dessay thinks and says it is her last operatic performance, is quite a moving experience as it is.
The Capitole is an amazing smallish old house which is well renown among singers who started their career here like Natalie Dessay ( she was in the choir) or else for the gorgeous Michel Plasson's years where all star- singers came to perform at the Capitole. The Opera house is part of this elegant mansion which is Toulouse Town Hall, with XVIIth century painted ceilings, beautiful staircases and vaultings.
I like to recall two famous Toulouse singers I am particularly fond of:
Mady Mesplé .
She
recently published a book on her struggle with Parkinson disease.
Jane Berbié : She is a talented Mezzo soprano who has taught younger singers, one I have in mind because we have the chance to follow her career here in Marseille opera house: Marie-Ange Todorovich, excellent mezzo and actress too. She was Charlotte when her Werther was Rolando Villazon in Nice.
I had seen Natalie's Manon at the Licéu with Rolando Villazon and still have vivid memories of their performances I attended twice. The Sivadier's Manon ( Massenet has given place to the stage director's name for a famous Aix Festival production) became a landmark for NatalieDessay's admirers. I did not manage to get an affordable ticket in time, but had the privilege to see Charles Castronovo sing some arias on the opening night festivities on the Cours Mirabeau. (delightful open air performance).
It was then an anticipated pleasure to be able to see them both again and it was a real success once I was there.
The Paradise is quite steep, and the red velvet benches quite hard, but the view is mgic and the acoustic wonderful! As soon as I started taking a picture of the House and closed curtains, I was told off so I have only one picture of the House and that's it!
Laurent Pelly 's production is rather simple and tame with 19th century costumes, plain looking at the opening scene and then becoming gorgeous with the growth of the heroine then to almost nothing when she became an outcast....
When Nat Dessay appeared in Cours La Reine for her flamboyant aria, "Je marche sur tous les chemins", she was smashing, all in white and dazzling furs and hat!
Why does she want to put an end to lyrical singing? who can give us so fine high ranging arias while acting like she does ?
I was shattered by the last scene: An empty wharf with the sea for horizon and a row of poorly lit street lamps in a foggy atmosphere. The musicality of this couple of singers plus their dramatic and human involvement made these last moments unforgettable, catching and moving, relying on the power of the music with their complete chemistry without exagerating the pathos of it all!
I will remember the atmosphere of this end, very violent when Manon is coming from the boat with a group of guards and is savagely abused by them while DeGrieux and her Cousin are hiding, waiting to pay for having her back.
.Then comes the last moment where the couple goes back to where they began accompanied by the musical flashback sung by De Grieux this time: "n'est- ce pas ma main ".
I read that this rhapsodic tune so catching and hot was from fashionable tune in favour in Les Salons in those days.
Charles Castronovo gave such a fine rendition, the best I have heard live so far because he never over acts and really feels what he sings.
As for Manon's death, Natalie Dessay also gave a fine and utterly moving rendition. I appreciated the orchestra following precisely the singers and adding the desperate touch matching this depressive last scene setting.
And it was a great success for the entire cast.
At the stage door, I had a nice chat with Charles Castronovo who is a happy person, welcoming, and may be he felt I love children a lot as I enquired about his little boy! the family is going to be happier and larger soon and he was so pleased to share the Good News! It was impossible to feel any tension after what he gave us ! He was beaming with happiness and simplicity!I asked if I could take a photo... such a well-balanced young man! My best wishes to them all!
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