Opera Daily đ¶ â âJe crois entendre encoreâ from Georges Bizet's Les pĂȘcheurs de perles
Today weâre listening toâŠ
American tenor Lawrence Brownlee singing âJe crois entendre encoreâ (âI still believe I hearâ), Nadirâs aria from Georges Bizet's French opera Les pĂȘcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers). If you watched the film The Father with Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman you would have heard this piece sung by French tenor Cyrille Dubois.
I had a different selection scheduled to share with you today that I had been chipping away at all week, but I made a last minute change. I am finding thatâs more of the norm these days rather than the exception. Sometimes a piece hits me, and I must share. This performance of Larry Brownlee singing âJe crois entendre encoreâ is one of those performances. Larryâs singing here sneaks into your soulâyou will feel like you are floating.
The Pearl Fishers tells the story of a love triangle between Zurga, the leader of a fishing village (on the coast of Sri Lanka), his old friend Nadir, and the priestess LeĂŻla. In the famous friendship duet from the opera, âAu fond du temple saintâ (which we covered last July) Zurga and Nadir recounts how their relationship had been strained in the past because they both were in love with the same woman (LeĂŻla) but how they pledged to eternally remain friends. Fast forward, LeĂŻla arrives as an anonymous priestess, whose face no one can see, who comes every year to provide spiritual protection for the tribe. LeĂŻla recognizes Nadir and is shaken up by his presence.
After everyone leaves, Nadir is alone and reflects on the fact that he recognized LeĂŻlaâs voice. He feels as if he should have told Zurga who she was, but he is so happy to see her again despite his earlier vow. As he sings, you can hear the sadness in his heart. The aria has a haunting quality, and the text speaks of an almost unbearable feeling of nostalgia.
I still believe I hear
hidden beneath the palm trees
her voice, tender and deep
like the song of a doveoh enchanting night
divine rapture
delightful memory
mad intoxication, sweet dream.In the clear starlight
I still believe I see her
half drawing her long veil
to the warm night breeze.Oh enchanting night
divine rapture
delightful memory
mad intoxication, sweet dream.
Charming memory.
Here are some other interpretations of the piece:
Alain Vanzo
Jussi Björling
Javier Camarena
Jerry Hadley
Matthew Polenzani
Thank you for reading (and listening),
Michele
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If you missed any of the previous pieces from the past month, catch up here:
After dawdling through the tenors these past few days, I almost abandoned them completely once the Tokyo Olympics had begun. Whenever the worldâs greatest athletes come together to compete, I become a complete sports nut. I root for the home team at all times. The better part, though, is seeing people from almost every corner of the earth come together in unity, friendship and peace.
The Tokyo Olympics have been weird and wacky from the start. Yet there is much to admire about Japan, and the hospitality she has extended to a world caught in the grip of a global pandemic. As evidenced by ongoing protests, the Japanese people are divided over the games. âThe show must go on!â has come into direct conflict with rising Covid infection rates.
I pray that these Olympics will not become a super spreader event. Meanwhile, out of honor and respect, I watch. Iâm making a conscious effort to follow the Olympic sports which don't get the marquee headlines. Sports like archery, foil, badminton, taekwondo, kendo or air pistol are where medalists emerge from developing or smaller nations like Cameroon, Estonia and Kosovo. Iâll check out the new sports like surfing, motocross and skateboarding. But my heart belongs to dressage, not only because men and women on horseback compete on an equal footing against each other, but because itâs a performing art â beautiful, elegant and refined at its best.
Having recently witnessed two billionaires compete to see how high they could fly to the edge of the sky, Iâll gladly settle for these more down to earth races.
Returning to the selections for this past week's Opera Daily, like Puccini, Bizet knew how to play the heartstrings. âJe crois entendre encoreâ*, from Act 1 of âLes pĂȘcheurs de perlesâ (The Pearl Fishers) is so full of Nadir's love, lamentation and longing for Leila that the more I listened to it, the more I felt like crying. Each tenor voice was lyrical and sweet, but with a flavor all its own. Here are my takes.
LAWRENCE BROWNLEE Red Velvet Cake (rich, lush, once savored you just want more)
Latest News: https://en.martincid.com/2021/07/23/patricia-petibon-and-lawrence-brownlee-at-the-star-gala-in-the-park/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Brownlee
ALFREDO KRAUS Spanish Flan (perfection and consistency through endless variations)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1rTaw3O1wI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfredo_Kraus
ALAIN VANZO CrĂšpes Suzette (light, airy, easy to digest)
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/July13/Vanzo_Francais_CDRG201.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Vanzo
JUSSI BJĂRLING Rum Cake (intoxicating and highly addictive)
https://edisoneffect.blogspot.com/2007/07/jussi-bjrling-1911-1960-perhaps.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jussi_Bj%C3%B6rling
JAVIER CAMARENA Cherries Jubilee Flambé (filling, flamboyant, can set hearts afire)
https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Best-of-BWW-Interviews-Tenor-Javier-Camarena-High-Cs-and-High-Fives-at-the-Met-20200318
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javier_Camarena
JERRY HADLEY Apple Pie (quintessentially American, once tasted never to be forgotten)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7DY9ADRrTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIQvceRWjxo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Hadley
MATTHEW POLENZANI Lemon Meringue (for my taste, too light, insubstantial, lacks depth)
https://www.schmopera.com/talking-with-singers-matthew-polenzani/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Polenzani
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Je crois entendre encore,
Caché sous les palmiers,
Sa voix tendre et sonore
Comme un chant de ramier!
O nuit enchanteresse!
Divin ravissement!
O souvenir charmant!
Folle ivresse! doux rĂȘve!
Aux clartés des étoiles,
Je crois encore la voir,
Entr'ouvrir ses longs voiles
Aux vents tiĂšdes du soir!
O nuit enchanteresse!
Divin ravissement!
O souvenir charmant!
Folle ivresse! doux rĂȘve!
Charmant souvenir!
What a delivery from Lawrence Brownlee! So enjoyed it