Berlioz And The Ventilator Blues
By Doug English
Join Doug and Expats Paris on Saturday, May 17 at the Cité de la Musique
for Le Diable et le Bon Dieu.
Anima
Eterna
Jos
van Immerseel direction
Rian
de Waal piano Erard 1896
Franz
Liszt
Méphisto
Valse n°1
Edvard
Grieg
Concerto
pour piano
Hector Berlioz
Symphonie Fantastique
The
Symphonie Fantastique is really a fun piece to hear. The range of
emotion IS fantastic. For this piece, Berlioz increased the number of
instruments in the orchestra well over what had been traditionally done at the
time. It's his most well known composition, and there are moments of musical
intensity that will give you goose bumps. Well, they give me goose bumps.
Berlioz...
so what can I say? French guy. Falls in passionate love with this actress...
and searches for a way to... ummmmm... get to her. Flowers and chocolates? He
tried that... apparently maybe even seeing her after one of her shows chanting Let's
spend the night together long before Mick got the formula.
Anyway,
the woman of his dreams found all of this a bit much. But Hector didn't back
off... No way! But of course! Composing this new huge emotional sound must have
been a kind of cathartic moment, because the other option was known at the time
to cause blindness.
So
I know your next question, and... HE DID GET THE GIRL! God I love stories like
this (Contrary to rumour). Oh, and by the way, there are drugs too, as the
piece was based on dreamy reflections of an "artist" (ummm... wonder
who that could be? ) on opium. Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll... and I bet you
thought this kind of thing started with Herman and The Hermits.
Anyway,
this program explores a little of the early romantic period, and it's always a
treat with all the explosive flourishes and constant mood changes. Definitely
not boring. I don't know about the LISZT piece, but what did catch my eye was
the movement called MEPHISTO POLKA... I love this title...I'm going to put Sympathy
For The Devil on the stereo now... In preparation...
By
the way, Liszt and Berlioz were friends. They must have had some fun nights out
on the town...Please allow me to introduce myself... I'm a man of wealth and
taste...
Don't
know about the GRIEG either. So we'll see. Life is rich, n'est-ce pas?
Of
course, like always, we'll meetup at the CAFÉ DE LA MUSIQUE for a drink after the show...
You can order your tickets (24 or 29 euro assigned seating)
over the internet and they can be sent to the address of your choice free of
charge. Very easy. Remember, the earlier you reserve, the better your seat...
When?
Saturday,
May 17, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Where?
CITE DE LA MUSIQUE
221, avenue Jean
Jaures 75019
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