Recital Rundown

I thought I'd put a little summary up of my upcoming final degree recital here at York. It's a good program (I think) and I'm excited to perform it on Wednesday.

Gounod -Serénade, Le Soir
-These are two really lovely songs by an unjustly neglected song composer. Gounod really sent the melodie on its way, blending elements of Schumann and Schubert with his own particular melodic style. 'Sérénade' has the sort of beguiling melody that sticks in your head after you hear it. 'Le Soir' is like the best of Schubert's night songs, serene and spacious with subtle harmonic shifts and a real lyricism.

Massenet-Poeme du souvenir
-This piece is a gem. Massenet wrote a number of song cycles in the late 1860s and early 1870s modeled on Dichterliebe or Frauenliebe und-leben, including Poeme du souvenir to poetry of Armand Silvestre. It's a shame that no one does them because they are well written for the voice and piano and provide a nice contrast to all the German cycles.

Fauré-Hymne, La Rançon, Chant d'automne
-Fauré wrote three songs to poems of Baudelaire, under the influence of Duparc, Schumann and a general dark mood caused by the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. They're quite unlike any other songs he wrote, being largely dramatic and experimental in form. To be honest, probably not the best Fauré songs to perform, but very interesting to study...

Duparc-L'invitation au voyage, Chanson Triste
-Two old chestnuts, and here we get to hear Duparc's interpretation of Baudelaire next to Fauré's. Duparc wins. Lovely to sing and play, these songs never lose the spark that makes them special.

So there you have it: 'Standing in the Shadows of Schumann-The dawn of the glory age of French Song'