Today weâre listening to⊠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
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)
What a delivery from Lawrence Brownlee! So enjoyed it
FYI the Met is streaming a free performance of Les pĂȘcheurs des perles from 2016.
You can watch here:
https://metoperafree.brightcove-services.com/?videoId=6263841144001
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!