CONTRASTS

On Tuesday evening I was invited to a recital with Grace Bumbry. I took Nicky along with me. I knew absolutely nothing about this mezzo-soprano. My friends didn’t either. From her photo, she was black and very beautiful - an undefinable age. We learn that she has a very rich background as an opera singer. Was asked by Frank Sinatra to sing at the inauguration of Ronald Reagan and in some ways this changes her repertory. Some of her favorite singers are Shirley Bassey, Gladys Knight, Barbara Streisand et Dionne Warwick and this is what the concert is to be all about. A beauty appears on the stage. 75 years. Moving slowly but oh what a voice. Memory lane jerks Nicky into tears and I was close. An interval yes, but the spectators don’t let her go at the end of the concert  and she comes back for three encores. A man calls out «And what are you doing for the rest of your life?» Her answer -  «Why? Are you a candidate?»


USA Photo


At the Chatelet theatre on Tuesday 6th
 


Last night I went to La Cité de la Musique to hear Sophie Hunger (a Swiss-German) in one of a series of concerts on Bob Dylan. «Bob Dylan revisited».
Sophie Hunger for the Cité Recital
She sang alone with her guitar and accordion. Her voice WAS Dylan and there were moments if you closed your eyes you could see him. Her rendition of all the songs we know were modernized and made him a creator of today. She also has her own group and writes her own songs.


Grace Bumbry sang in all for close to two hours. Sophie left us after 1hour and 10 minutes. The audience was not happy.

When Joan Baez started out in cafés, she would sing for hours non stop and also non stop with Dylan. At 29 Sophie Hunger leaves the stage a little over an hour and Grace stays with us for close to two hours.

It is «International Woman’s Day» - I will make no further comment.

Commentaires

Lo a dit…
Not sure about Sophie Hunger and her rendition of Bob Dylan (not quite my "cuppa tea") but would have loved to listen to Grace Bumbry even though I had never heard of her. Dommage...
8/3/12 19:01
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