À Chloris and a selection of mélodie by Reynaldo Hahn will be performed by soprano Anna Gregg followed by Les Nuits d’Été or Summer Nights, a song cycle in a staged performance by mezzo soprano Jenny Bourke and pianist Bryan Evans.
Hector Berlioz originally wrote Les Nuits d’Été, based around Théophile Gautier’s poems, for a mezzo or tenor and piano, though it is more well known in its orchestral version. Les Nuits d’Été is Berlioz’s only song cycle published as a set. The songs explore the universal themes of love and loss and will be performed in French.
À Chloris is a setting of a poem by the French poet Théophile de Viau (1590-1626). Hahn’s song was composed in 1916 and speaks of a shepherdess named Chloris, portraying her as the epitome of beauty and grace. A selection of mélodies by Hahn will also be performed during this Salon Series event.
These beautiful songs exploring themes of love and loss are uplifting and beautiful and will provide our audience with a magical experience of live French art song.
This event is part of NI Opera’s new Salon Series: six one act productions featuring opera, art song, cabaret and music theatre, which will be touring different locations in Northern Ireland during 2023 and 2024
Images are from the performance of A Chloris and Les Nuits D’Été by soprano Mary McCabe in Hillsborough Castle in June 2023.
