A tour d'horizon of French song; Gens and Manoff enchant Oxford

By Roy Westbrook, 25 October 2018

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“There seems to be no vocal colour or technical aspect of this art Gens does not possess.”

Reviewed at SJE Arts at St John the Evangelist Church, Oxford on 24 October 2018

Gounod, Songs: selection

de Polignac, Lamento

Chausson, Songs: selection

Massenet, Songs: selection

Duparc, Songs: selection

Hahn, Songs: selection

Works by Offenbach

Fauré, Les roses d'Ispahan, Op.39 no.4 (Encore)

Véronique Gens, Soprano

Susan Manoff, Piano

Fauré Song Gala a showcase for the composer's mélodies

Mark Valencia, 13th September

Fauré was the finest of French songwriters. Stéphane Degout and Véronique Gens shine in a full-length evening in a packed Wigmore Hall.

****1

Mélodie en sous-sol : Véronique Gens et Susan Manoff au Musée d'Orsay

Apolline Gouzi, 21st November

Indisposée, Véronique Gens a eu bien du mal à venir à bout de ce programme de mélodies. La cohésion du duo qu'elle forme avec Susan Manoff lui a toutefois permis de livrer des interprétations d'une grande sensibilité.

***11

Patricia Petibon fait son show à la Salle Gaveau

Jean-Marc Piriou, 9th March

On est séduit par la performance vocale de la pétillante Patricia Petibon, dans un récital éclectique, au confluent du chant lyrique et de la chanson populaire.

***11

Reflections and frenzy from Canellakis and the London Philharmonic

Susannah Moody, 22nd October

A compelling evening from the London Philharmonic Orchestra tackles different themes of spring, showing gracefulness in Lili Boulanger’s works and beating up a frenzy in Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

****1

Fauré Song Gala a showcase for the composer's mélodies

Mark Valencia, 13th September

Fauré was the finest of French songwriters. Stéphane Degout and Véronique Gens shine in a full-length evening in a packed Wigmore Hall.

****1

An evening of song from La Belle Époque with Veronique Gens

Simon Thompson, 10th September

One of the Lammermuir Festival's miniature miracles: Véronique Gens and Joseph Middleton present an evening of French chansons in the East Lothian countryside.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.