2024-04-29 19:26:44
Sabine Devieilhe is one of the rare French singers whose talent and personality shine throughout the world. We might say that she is brilliant, brilliant, even a virtuoso! But what shines through the most regarding this artist is surely the simplicity of her approach, musical and human. For her concert on Tuesday April 30 at the Auditorium de Bordeaux in duo with her friend Mathieu Pordoy on piano, she agreed to tell the music and identity of their program.
Sabine Devieilhe is one of the rare French singers whose talent and personality shine throughout the world. We might say that she is brilliant, brilliant, even a virtuoso! But what shines through the most regarding this artist is surely the simplicity of her approach, musical and human. For her concert on Tuesday April 30 at the Auditorium de Bordeaux in duo with her friend Mathieu Pordoy on piano, she agreed to tell the music and identity of their program.
What is your relationship to Bordeaux?
For me, Bordeaux began in my musical relationship with Pygmalion and this beautiful partnership between the Opera and an ensemble that was very young at the time. I am married to Raphaël Pichon. In a sense, we grew up together, and the city of Bordeaux saw us create many of our programs. What I find very exciting is that there is this audience of subscribers, but also young students from the Conservatory and enthusiasts who are very enthusiastic. It’s nice to come here, we have our little habits, especially since there was festival Pulsation [porté par Pygmalion, NDLR], where I will be more than a visitor in 2025… We finally realize that it works to empower listeners with original programs that ask them to take a step towards us. This is also the signature of our partnership with the city of Bordeaux. Where it might seem obtuse to some, these concerts attract support wherever we take them, including among audiences who discover us. Besides, I want to say to all these young people who are coming for the first time “what luck! » because this posture of the unheard of is a true happiness that only happens once in a lifetime.
Tell us regarding this program of lieder by Strauss and Mozart…
Mozart and Strauss have in common that they were child prodigies and who distinguished themselves in particular through lied, which are actually songs. It’s a bit of the variety of the time. In this style, they have, on a corner of the table, created a profusion of repertoires, particularly for soprano voices. This is the work of our singers still today, around a text and its setting to music. It is both a very simple musical gesture and a laboratory that they used for their operatic arias. With my friend Mathieu [Mathieu Pordoy accompagnera au piano, NDLR] we only selected wonderful music. It’s magical to delve into these scores and say to yourself “we’re spoiled for choice”.
They say you are a Mozartian. What does that represent?
It is with great humility that I welcome this label, because this language is so difficult to interpret… It is pure, both very simple and so hard to restore. I endorse him first of all because I want to, because his music speaks to me, and also because Mozart’s personality is very touching. It was a real artichoke heart! And then Mozart had a taste for high-pitched voices, which is a joy for me, because it allows me to do this work of restoring the period by reading the score, to find the timbre and the projection, by seeking to put myself in the shoes of the dedicates of these works. It’s quite exciting and very moving at the same time.
And the link with Strauss in all this?
In Strauss, there is a direct connection with Mozart, but also a very strong romantic style: very elaborate harmonic plans and great lyricism. What is wonderful for me is this work of length that the style requires, and the Durchkomponiert, which is this way of creating poetic atmospheres rather than composing very formal songs. There is always a subtext beneath the meaning of the words. In “Die Nacht” for example, we have a fairly romantic and contemplative description of the colors of the night. But at the piano, Strauss already gives us the impression that there is a problem: the narrator is afraid that this night will also steal his love. And this description, a priori a bit vague, becomes the scene of deep anguish. Thanks to this music and its unbearable suspense, as a performer, we experience the match 100%.
Something to add ?
Yes. I have the opportunity to talk regarding my Mozart career, of doing major opera productions around the world, I would say that the choice I managed to make to also play in small groups is a manifesto, both for me to be in complicity with my partners, and also with the public. Being in a small formation on stage is an opportunity to meet people, to speak to them directly and to make the complicity that binds us live more simply. With Mathieu there is a real friendship, we laugh a lot, and I hope that a little of this joy shines through in the room.
Sabine Devieilhe and Mathieu Pordoy, Tuesday April 30 at 8 p.m., Bordeaux auditorium. Information and reservation: opera-bordeaux.com
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#Mozart #real #heart #artichoke
