On the third day of ‘astronomical’ Spring we present a programme of music from France – travelling through time and space into the world of fin de siècle Paris with Debussy’s greeting for women’s voices on a 19^th Century poem, and his three settings of poems by a 15^th Century nobleman who was held hostage by the English for 24 years after the Battle of Agincourt!

The Trois Chansons de Charles d’Orléans are the only songs Debussy left for unaccompanied choir, as were the Trois Chansons we shall also perform by his younger contemporary Ravel. These were written at the beginning of the First World War when Ravel was anxious to enlist to fight for his country, and he wrote the poems in the style of 16^th Century popular Chansons.

Gabriel Fauré, the centenary of whose death is marked this year, is represented by his ever-popular Cantique de Jean Racine and the Madrigal set as a mischievous wedding present for his friend and ex-pupil  André Messager, who was the dedicatee.

And no homage to French choral composition would be complete without including Francis Poulenc – we shall sing a selection from his Sept Chansons (1936) – commentators have designated this work for mixed chorus as ‘a true modern counterpart of the polyphonic works of the French Renaissance masters’.

The second part of our concert features arrangements of well-known songs that also date from the first half of the last century – but in this case, repreesenting the great French cabaret tradition exemplified by Charles Trenet and – of course – Edith Piaf.

Do join us on Friday 22nd March 2024 for the pre-concert talk at 6.30pm with the performance starting at 7pm in St. Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico.

Tickets are now on sale online from ticketsource.

À bientôt!