8 years ago
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Berlioz, Les Nuits d'été. Janet Baker.n°6. L'ile inconnue
Text: Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811-1872)
L'ile inconnue/
The unknown isle
Say, young beauty,
Where do you wish to go?
The sail swells itself,
The breeze will blow.
The oar is made of ivory,
The flag is of silk,
The helm is of fine gold;
I have for ballast an orange,
For a sail, the wing of an angel,
For a deck boy, a seraph.
Say, young beauty,
Where do you wish to go?
The sail swells itself,
The breeze will blow.
Is it to the Baltic?
To the Pacific Ocean?
To the island of Java?
Or is it well to Norway,
To gather the flower of the snow,
Or the flower of Angsoka?
Say, young beauty,
Where do you wish to go?
Lead me, says the beauty,
To the faithful shore
Where one loves always!
This shore, my darling,
We hardly know at all
In the land of Love.
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I'll go to this unknown isle! How can you not get swept up in this exuberant outburst? The precision and clarity in Baker's performance is great.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the romantic imagery of nature concluding this work. For some reason this last movement doesn't fit for me. Mainly because of it's naive, optimistic nature. I enjoy the musical and poetic imagery very much but it seems to under mind the other movements. I may be thinking too egocentrically, because I think if I would have taken this journey, my revelation would have been different. Maybe speaking of the pain that was endured and saying that I will continue to love. Something more consistent.
ReplyDeleteJust reading the poem gave me chills before I even watched the video! What marvelous words and sentiments! I thoroughly enjoyed Berlioz's musical setting, which seemed completely natural. You cannot watch this video without smiling and feeling happy yourself.
ReplyDeleteNewly translated for program notes for a concert I'm hosting May 26: http://mainconcerts.blogspot.com/2009/05/526-615-pm-anne-elise-richie.html --I think I'm finished with the translation now, but any further revision will be reflected on the concert blog page...
ReplyDelete(English version ©2009, by Edward Lein -- please notify/credit if reprinting)
The Unknown IslandTell me, my dear young thing,
Where might you wish to go?
The sail unfurls its wing,
The breeze begins to blow!
The oar’s made of ivory
The flag of silk moiré,
A golden helm most fine;
For ballast I have oranges,
For sails, the wings of angels,
For shipmate, a seraphim.
Tell me, my dear young thing,
Where might you wish to go?
The sail unfurls its wing,
The breeze begins to blow!
Might it be the Baltic?
Or the wide Pacific?
To the Isle of Java?
Or to Norway might we go
To cull flowers in the snow,
Or a bloom from Angsoka?
Tell me, my dear young thing,
Where might you wish to go?
“Carry me,” said the beauty,
“To that shore where truly
We’ll find eternal love.”
--That certain shore, my dear,
Is rarely known, I fear,
In the realm of love.
Where might you wish to go?
The breeze begins to blow!
Triumphant and again full of so many different colors and characters. She is truly amazing to watch and I am in awe of how relaxed she looks and yet aware of how much energy she is gathering to sing with that kind of brilliance.
ReplyDeleteI think this graceful song gives the cycle a very nice ending. I really like how Baker maintains her energy till the end of the song. Though her part finishes before the orchestral part, she is still engaged in the music. And I really like Baker's smile!
ReplyDeleteI love how well defined the two characters are in this piece- both musically and in performance. Again, Baker uses a dramatic exuberance to really create the male character, and then follows with the lighter color as the young girl- this is wonderfully effective.
ReplyDeleteI like the exotic flavor of the melody when the text lists the places they could sail to, through it seems a little incongruous with the rest of the set.
ReplyDeleteThis piece begins so explosively with the strings and the energetic vocal line and Baker is fully committed, as she has been throughout the cycle. She is totally exuberant, which is so what this piece needs in a performance. I love Baker's fearless use of her mouth to create the clear, legato language and also maintain space to sing beautifully!
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ReplyDeleteThe energy of this movement strikes me as being more epic in scale, perhaps because of the activity in the orchestra that supports the more extroverted singing in this movement. It is for me the first time the music is upbeat again since the first movement. The effect is somewhat paradoxical to me: on the one hand, there is an apparent grandeur to the singing and orchestral writing, but at the same time, there is a certain folk-like simplicity to this music.
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me the most about this final piece of the cycle is how while it is set in a triple meter (6/8) following the trope of depicting traveling out to sea, the music still has a certain quality that is inherently French.
ReplyDeleteI can see why these pieces are often done by sopranos as well as mezzos! This last one is so effusive, a perfect way to end the cycle, and Baker brings so much wonderful energy to it. You can really hear the folk element in the meter and melody, but the phrases, range, and text suggest the piece is an opera scena. What a way to end this cycle!
ReplyDeleteThis is not what I expected. Berlioz brings another meaning to "summer nights." Baker's unwavering stamina throughout this cycle seems almost inhuman, but her performance is so natural and unhindered. She brings a beautiful level of artistry to a really wonderful cycle.
ReplyDeleteI love Baker's illustrious and sumptuous tone throughout this entire cycle. Her consistency is marvelous. Thinking about this recording as POSSIBLY a definitive recording of this work I would have to say I agree to some extent. In listening to the cycle as a whole I would have to say that she sings the first song well, but it is rather the level of composition of that first piece as compared to the rest that puts it so out of place (obviously my opinion). Villanelle is a song that I have heard sung poorly so many times in my life and I am of some belief that mediocre singers hardly get through the first song of a cycle, especially one of this magnitude and difficulty. Berlioz' scoring to accompany voice is world class in this cycle and his modulation between keys and tonalities is so effortless that I have a hard time believing that there was ever another option from what ended up being written. It is just that good. I would easily consider this recording as one of the finest out there and I thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to end this cycle! Dame Baker is superb. These recordings are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBerlioz's music is rich and colorful! Baker's interpretation is attractive and abundant! And I like this song as the ending of the cycle because the protagonist is not pessimistic and desperate, he always has a positive attitude towards life.
ReplyDeleteBerlioz and Baker have both done a good job capturing the overconfident bravado of the first speaker in this poem. I felt the contrast was not quite sharp enough when it switched speakers and I'm pretty that one's on Berlioz not Baker. I loved the way it ended so vaguely.
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