This 'Tour de France' was a successful marriage between purebred classical French song repertoire and chanson. Paris is the city of love, that sentiment was the common thread throughout the concert.
The two sopranos Lissa Meyvis and Lisa Willems put together an unconventional programme. The artistic energy flows abundantly. They did not choose exclusively for the well-known repertoire, but also unlock lesser-known works with many gems. In the bittersweet texts, resonates the love for a person or nature. Classical pianist Lester Van Loock takes on the serving role of accompanist who provides the cheerful note with a dry remark in between. Twice he also brings a piano solo with transparency, bravura and mastery. This trio guides the audience into a world full of ear-caressing, delightful music.
Lisa Willems opens with a yearning song from the belle époque by Erik Satie 'Je te veux'. Subsequently Lissa Meyvis with 'La diva de l'empire'. It comes from the café-concert period of Erik Satie, in which he was a pianist at the cabaret Le Chat noir. He wrote it for Paulette Darty. It is simple but effective in style and not free from some frivolities. Lissa Meyvis sings with body and soul. An expressive body language and mime that speaks volumes. Eyes that can tempt and just as well breathe fire. She projects her seduction arts onto a few older gentlemen. Blissful! She knows how to win over the audience completely by coloring in the charm and fickleness of a diva. Lisa Willems follows with 'Hymne à l'amour' by Edith Piaf based on a composition by Schumann. There are such a couple of performers with great uniqueness that you can hardly match. The dark, deeply felt timbre of Piaf's voice was unique. As a soprano to interpret that ballad is a gamble and I did not find it so successful. Whereas Lissa Meyvis chooses 'La vie en rose' one of the best-known songs by la Môme Piaf. Meyvis understands the art of drawing a song towards herself, taking ownership of it in an unaffected and transparent manner and extracting its essence. It provides a beautiful moment of stillness. She does this too with 'La mer' by Charles Trenet. He wrote the text at the age of 16 and later composed a composition around it. Together with 'La vie en rose' by Edith Piaf, they are the best-selling French songs of all time.
After all the vocal work, time for Lester Van Loock. He chose 'Arabesque no. 1' by Claude Debussy. The name refers to lightness and ornamentation. With bravura in terms of empathy and playing, he lays bare Debussy's narrative power.
Lisa Willems picks up with 'Prose lyrique – De Rêve' also by Claude Debussy. He wrote both the text and the music and deals with the rustling of leaves. Vocally/technically a demanding song. Since the programme was given the name 'Tour de France', a song about a bicycle could not be missing. The oeuvre of Francis Poulenc is not always equally accessible but in 'Fêtes galantes – Bicyclette' he shows a different and spicier side of his talent. In terms of articulation it is pure fireworks. Lisa Willems delivers an impressive interpretation twice.
Lissa Meyvis calls upon all her acting talent again for 'La Coccinelle' by George Bizet. A man wants to kiss a girl but is distracted by a ladybug. She performs this as an ingénue, mischievous and charming. Lisa Willems chose the aria 'Habanera' from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet, composed for mezzo but as a soprano she also brings it off brilliantly. Carmen demands love. The high notes are impressive. The impact is so great that I even have to wipe away a tear. Lissa Meyvis chooses challenging songs and switches effortlessly between moods. As in 'Les filles de Cadix' by Léo Delibes. With the accompaniment of piano and castanets, the Spanish atmosphere comes into its own. The first part closes with the beautiful 'Flower duet from the opera Lakmé' by Léo Delibes. Their voices assimilate perfectly.
The second part cannot be called purely French. It is more a network of artists who once stranded in France, and stayed there for a shorter or longer period. Starting with Kurt Weill. Lisa and Lissa perform 'Youkali'. After Weill escaped from Nazi Germany, he tried during his two years in Paris to write successful songs. Lisa also performs the resolute 'Je ne t'aime pas' by Weill, as well as the world hit by Nana Mouskouri 'Coucouroucoucou'. Lissa Meyvis, on the other hand, chose a number by the Armenian singer who found his second home in France: 'Par gourmandise' by Charles Aznavour. That mix leads to engaging, funny, touching and atmospheric moments.
Lester Van Loock again exposes his mastery in the 'Second Hungarian Rhapsody' from a series of nineteen Hungarian Rhapsodies by Franz Liszt. Breathtaking and captivating to watch and listen to. Lisa Willems throws herself into the 'Vilja Lied' by Franz Léhar from his operetta "Die Lustige Witwe". Another number from the operetta 'Lippen Schweigen' is performed in a subtle way to portray the sexual attraction between the two women.
Lissa Meyvis performs an aria from the tragedy opera Orpheus et Eurydice by Christoph Willuck Gluck 'J'ai perdu mon Eurydice' once translated into French. Followed by Lisa Willems with a song that perfectly fits this time of year 'Les feuilles mortes' written in 1946 by Jacques Prévert, music by Joseph Kosma. Yves Montand made it a classic. Lissa Meyvis ventures into the signature song of the black icon Josephine Baker 'J'ai deux amours'. Lisa follows with 'A Chloris' by Reynaldo Hahn, a French composer, conductor and music critic. He moved to France at the age of three from Venezuela.
In the final part Lissa Meyvis pulls out all the stops with the cheerful aria 'Air des bisous' by Jacques Offenbach. And as a finale a duet between Lisa & Lissa also by Offenbach 'Barcarolle – Belle Nuit' from Hoffmann's Tales.
Once again a successful matinee where the promise of an exciting and enriching musical experience was fully delivered. Everyone left with a dose of oxytocin and dopamine.
- PRODUCTION: Bellissama
- VOCALS: sopranos Lissa Meyvis and Lisa Willems
- PIANO: Lester Van Loock
- WHERE & WHEN: Fakkeltheater Antwerpen, 12.11.2023
