What's Your Favorite Piece in the French Language?

Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
Heidi_Vass
updated 10 mths ago
13replies

This week, all eyes are on France and the Olympics in Paris AND tonebase voice just released a brand new course on French Diction! All this French talk has me wondering, what is your favorite piece of music in French? Is it an aria from an Iconic Bizet Opera, an enigmatic mélodie or maybe a simple chanson? In this discussion of the week let's talk about your favorite French piece. Bonus points for a link to your favorite performance and any anecdotes about why you love it so much. Allons-y!

- Blair_BooneMigura
- 10 mths ago
- Reported - view
I have been in love with Henri Duparc's Phidylé for most of my life, and my enthusiasm for this mélodie has never waned. Jessye Norman and Dalton Baldwin's interpretation is among my favorites!

https://youtu.be/TkIL2wUdYrI?si=JCrxJTn-tJL4JvRL
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  10 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  You and Paul Groves may have something in common with the Duparc pick :) .. this performance is stunning. Amazing to hear Norman's restraint and stunning phrasing and Dalton is always impeccable. Thank you for sharing.. just beautiful!
- JohnEric_Robinson
  
  9 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks so much for the link! I didn't know Dalton Baldwin's work, and I'm quite taken with it.
- Blair_BooneMigura
  
  9 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  Dalton was a dear, and an exemplary performer in the art song tradition particularly the French repertoire. Enjoy your exploration of his repertoire. You can also find interviews with him too online which are always enlightening.
- JohnEric_Robinson
  
  9 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thank you!
- Punya
- 10 mths ago
- Reported - view
favorite French opera: Gounod's Faust!!

the il se fait tard scene first got me into opera. It sent shivers down my spine and still sends shivers down my spine. Plus how could you not love the Avant des quitter or Salut?

Favorite French aria though is Mon Coeur s'ouvre a ta voix from Samson and Delila. I love when a mezzo pulls out the full chest voice. My favorite recording of it is this. Just listen with eyes closed:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hHiySQuS_ws&pp=ygUTbW9uIGNvZXVyIG9sZ2Egam9zZQ%3D%3D

I'm a tenor and it is also my guilty please to sing the mezzo part. Apparently I'm not the one not tenor who feels this way:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/701089354153305?fs=e&mibextid=3pERcX&fs=e&s=TIeQ9V
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  10 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  that takes swischensfach to a whole new level, but I completely understand the instinct there and why not?? If you're just having some fun and enjoying the artistic process, I say - go for it!
  Both recordings are so beautiful and I even kept my eyes open on the first.. Borodina is stunning!! and when Cura puts his arm around her, the drama comes pouring into the performance. Fantastic pick and great recordings !!
- Letizia
  
  10 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  oh, please: explain to me what "swischensfach" is! 😱
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  10 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  It generally means a voice that goes between fachs. Usually it's a singer who falls between two categories and can sing mezzo or soprano rep, for example - switching fachs ;)
- Letizia
  
  10 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  🫵🏻 thanks! 🌞😎✌🏻
- Punya
  
  10 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  that was new for me too! Thank you for explaining :-)
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  10 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  that's what I'm here for 😄
- JohnEric_Robinson
  
  9 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  What a gorgeous aria. I want to sing it too!