However you celebrated the Fete Nationale yesterday it seems that the events in Nice (and some of the knee-jerk reactions) have spoiled it.
Those of us lucky enough to have been in the church at Varen at 18h (6pm) were treated to a lovely concert of Liebeslieder (love songs) from various poetic traditions, translated into German and set by Brahms.
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| The church was packed |
Four talented singers accompanied by two pianists sharing one keyboard sang 33 of the Liebeslieder and Neues Liebeslieder (ie a new collection) by Brahms. Britt Truyts (soprano), Hilary Jones (mezzo soprano), Roger Yu (tenor) and Bernard Linnemann (bass) with the backing of Darrel Chan and Iau Jo Yee filled the huge space with these enchanting love songs.
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| The four singers and their pianists. |
The entre'acte was a performance of Schumann's Five Popular pieces for cello and piano. Written for Clara Schumann who may have been the inspiration for the younger Brahms's Liebeslieder. The pieces were played by Tirke Linnemann accompanied by Darrel Chan and delighted the audience.
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| Cello and piano in the setting of Varen church. |
The group of musicians, essentially based around Birmingham, were giving just one performance of this concert whilst in France. If readers in the UK get a chance to go to another performance, take it. It was lovely.
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