(3 / 5)
Dame Felicity Lott and François Le Roux have done a bang up job in getting students who sing, the chance to develop their craft in the French repertoire. These recitals at Wigmore are fun, the promise of a gig in Paris is also enticing.
I might be wrong, but it appeared the programme was in the wrong order. I knew little to none of it, so I’d would very much like to discuss the singers and pianists who joined them. This programme (see below) was a mostly 19th century affair, conventional in some regards, filled with invention the other. The word piffy would apply for a lot of it, charming and regal as well.
Soprano Bella Marlen began with Debussy, effective in the murky pool of mysteries. She is decent to listen to, promise a word often used though here would apply greatly. It all seemed a breeze in her vocal ranges. Eliran Kadussi was a fascinating outing for countertenor, sweet and lively in his selection. His high range was sumptuous, acting decent with the material, hand gestures and eyes bulging. Baritone Johannes Moore was a standout as well, a fine actor with a voice that could easily suit Mozart, Wagner and Mussorgsky. He seems to relish the fun in these songs, the most animated out of the trio for sure. Fitting tributes to Fauré, who’s 100 anniversary of his death was a few days prior lingered, his delightful La bonne chanson selections pleasing to ears.
On piano Archie Bonham and Jong Sun Woo were partly overshadowed by the fluff and allure of the voices. Each brought sombre, pristine accompaniment when necessary for this French set. The response from the audience was positive. That final duet of Gounod’s L’arithmétique saw flustered finger counting aplenty, aside operetta stylings.
May we please suggest for the concert in October we have each singer billed as playing each exact pieces. We had the translated words to follow as we went, why not something clearer about who is doing what? Merci to all involved.
Programme:
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Ariettes oubliées – C’est l’extase & Fêtes galantes Book I – En sourdine
EMMANUEL CHABRIER: L’île heureuse
PAULINE VIARDOT: Lamento
HENRI DUPARC: Chanson triste
GABRIEL FAURÉ: La bonne chanson Op. 61 – La lune blanche luit dans les bois, L’hiver a cessé
HENRI DUTILLEUX: 3 sonnets de Jean Cassou – Il n’y avait que des troncs déchirés
CÉCILE CHAMINADE: Mignonne
EMMANUEL CHABRIER: Villanelle des petits canards
MAURICE RAVEL: Histoires naturelles
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: Pastorale
CHARLES GOUNOD: L’arithmétique
Wigmore French Song Exchange continues at the Salle Cortot, Paris on 30 Sept, then Wigmore Hall on 18 Oct 2024.