"The unexamined life is not worth living" Socrates

- - scatterings of ideas sent to my younger self, a sensitive girl who was fooled into believing she was a boy because of anatomy - -

Wednesday 10 October 2018

Somewhat Speechless

No, not quite speechless, but so close.

Last night K treated me to a lovely night out and what a treat! After a splendid dinner together, we attended a recital by Renée Fleming, accompanied, beautifully, on the piano, by Richard Bado.

At the end of her recital, she was called back over and over, and gave several encores. As a last, she asked for a request from the audience, and, thanks to an enthusiastic woman near us, sang Song to the Moon, from Dvorak's opera, Rusalka

As someone commented on this video, “She puts the magic in between the notes like no other singer”. Every part was magic. 

Renée Fleming transported me to heaven.




She did sing some popular pieces, but no Cole Porter. I wish we could have sung this one to her, because Renée is the absolute top.

You're The Top
Cole Porter

At words poetic I'm so pathetic
That I always have found it best
Instead of getting 'em off my chest,
To let 'em rest - unexpressed.
I hate parading my serenading,
As I’ll probably miss a bar,
But if this ditty is not so pretty,
At least it'll tell you how great you are.

You're the top! you're the colosseum,
You're the top! You're the Louvre museum,
You're the melody from a symphony by Strauss,
You're a Bendel bonnet,
A Shakespeare sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse!

You're the Nile! You're the tow'r of Pisa,
You're the smile, on the Mona Lisa!
I'm a worthless cheque, a total wreck, a flop!
But if baby I’m the bottom,
You're the top!

You're the top, you're Mahatma Gandhi,
You're the top! You're Napoleon brandy,
You're the purple light, of a summer night in Spain,
You're the National Gallery, you're Garbo's salary,
You're cellophane!

You're sublime, you're a turkey dinner,
You're the time, of the Derby winner,
I'm a toy balloon that's fated soon to pop;
But if baby I’m the bottom you're the top!

You're the top, you're a Waldorf salad
You're the top, you're a Berlin ballad
You're the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire
You're an O’Neal drama, you're Whistler's mama, you're camembert

You're a rose, you're inferno's Dante
You're the nose, on the great Durante
I'm a lazy lout who's just about to stop
But if baby I’m the bottom,
You're the top!



p.s.  I just realized, this is the second time I have featured Song to the Moon with Ms Fleming as the artist. Must be getting old!

Thank you Lindsay! I checked and here is Ms. Fleming singing Cole Porter. So In Love from Kiss Me Kate. You need to listen to the introduction, so don't be put off.


4 comments:

  1. Hi Halle,
    Indeed, I would agree Renée Fleming has in my opinion one of the finest soprano voices, (apart from the late Joan Sutherland) of the modern era. Since announcing her retirement from opera, I guess it’s a rare treat to be able to go along to her concert performances. That opera number Song to the Moon is very well suited to her rich voice. I have never heard Fleming sing any Col Porter but I imagine it would be fine but maybe not entirely suited to her voice. You might also like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GADdPQ02mLo since the aria was created specifically with Fleming in mind whose exquisite upper register and final pianissimo is evident in the “I can smell the sea air". Best wishes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not too often I get stumped by a piece. Had no idea Previn had written music for an opera on Streetcar Named Desire. That was beautiful.

      You have some extra listening to do now .. I did a rare update to this post, just for you and Renée lovers who might stop by.

      Delete