Sundays@Noon: French Song

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20 May 2012

L’heure exquise – A recital of French song

Catherine Redding  soprano
Michael Quinn  piano

Experience an enchanting journey through the world of French song, from the belle époque to the 1930s. Featuring exquisite melodies by Fauré, Ravel, Poulenc and Chausson, as well as Gounod’s charming aria ‘Je veux vivre’, L’heure exquise will transport you to a realm of moonlit terraces and smoky Parisian cafés, passionate encounters and imagined landscapes.

Catherine Redding and Michael Quinn have performed together for a number of years, and share an interest in both French repertoire and the intimate medium of the song recital, with its unique marriage of poetry and music. Bringing together a wealth of international experience in opera, oratorio and chamber music, Catherine and Michael are eager to share with audiences their interpretations and love of this art form.

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Cinq mélodies populaires grecques
Reynaldo Hahn (1874–1947) D’une prison
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) Clair de lune, Mandoline, En sourdine
Reynaldo Hahn L’heure exquise
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963) Impromptus II, III & V (from Five Impromptus for piano)
Francis Poulenc Fiançailles pour rire
Ernest Chausson (1855–1899) Le colibri, Les papillons, Le charme
Charles Gounod (1818–1893) Ah! Je veux vivre! (from Romeo and Juliet)