Gerard Souzay-Ravel: Don Quichotte a Dulcinee

[jongenzanger]

Ok, so I have studied all 3 of the pieces from this work. But I would like to know, is all of the rubato he is using correct or in style? I thought the first piece only had 1 rallentando and not one that is so severe. Anyone know? I know that famous singers can get away with more artistic license than us unknowns. Thoughts?

[Elantry]

Ha ha ha la joie!

[helloantonio]

Oh, I absolutely love this! This is so beautiful.

[acjoslin]

@goldenthroat....I agree with you. Ravel taught these to Singher (actually only the second one was written for him), Singher taught these to my teacher (Jerold Siena) and I learned them from him.

@operamac...these songs should be sung more operatically. Remember, they were written for a movie and are not French "melodie." By more operatically, I mean to say not light ; they need to sung more full.

[operamac]

Having performed these songs and listened to countless recordings, I can't say that I particularly like this performance. The phrasing is choppy, and he frequently gets "off the voice" for no apparent reason.

I don't think these songs should be blustered or operatically sung, but I actually find this performance to be just a bit sloppy. I have heard Souzay sing much better than this, and I'm baffled as to what he did here.

[Wally773MTG]

I'm currently studying under a pupil of Souzay's. Thank you for the chance to see the influence of my influence if you will haha. What a wonderful performer, such tone and control into the upper reaches...And that oh so french vibrato hah

[24yotenor]

absolutely materful. An authentic French tenor singing authentic French music. There is nothing more beautiful that that.

[Wally773MTG]

@24yotenor this man is a baritone, but I agree with you in sentiment

[sdegrace]

What a chance we have to see him singing! The french singer's example to my ears and sight.

[thorwickstrom]

magnifique. 

[MarcheseCadmio88]

Ravel's last vocal work. Adorable...

[Tunico1977]

luv him, always!

[liedersanger1]

I see it says 1966 at the end of the tape.

[liedersanger1]

I am eager to know what year this was made?? Please!

[leahnewyork]

How wonderful he looks close up! Even though he clasps his hands tightly throughout, his visual expression is so compelling. A marvelous rendition, vocally and, for a concert/film performance, theatrically.

[concertobub]

the first time I ever heard a baritone was when I picked up a vinyl lp of Cortot and Souzay performing the Dichterliebe of Schumann. Now I'm a baritone in training and I still love that song cycle - as well as Souzay's artistry.

[goldenthroat86]

Singing all those high F's piano and falsetto is a lot easier than singing them the way RAVEL wrote them...FORTE!

[Anduril610]

@goldenthroat86

are you joking? singing notes on the higher end of ones range softly is much more difficult than it is to sing them forte. The breathe control required is infinitly more concentrated. Way to not know what you're talking about.

[goldenthroat86]

@Anduril610 He uses falsetto, not piano. a lot easier! Besides Ravel marked those phrases forte, not piano. So much for "great artistry".

[Wally773MTG]

@goldenthroat86 do you know anything of french style? He was not singing pure falsetto there...what do you have to say of fischer-dieskau, do you hate his tone and artistry as well? Please just go have a wank to Leonard Warren and be done with it

[goldenthroat86]

@Wally773MTG Since I worked on these songs with Martial Singher...The man for whom they were written...I think I can say he taught me something about "french style." Singher "wrote the book" on French style. That's entirely different from French vocal technique which has produced almost no prominent singers.

I don't like Dieskau either. In person it's a small unattractive voice that sounds more like a tenor. Using "mooing and sighing" falsetto is not artistic...it's a gimmick.

[einalemland]

Quelle noblesse !

Gérard Souzay est définitivement mon interprète préféré de Mélodies françaises !!

[AulicExclusiva]

An ideal performance, by the greatest mélodie interpreter, ever.

[matejkliman]

Thank you very much for posting this. Souzays later recordings are usually not my favourites, I usually prefer Maurane or Kruysen especial because of the later decrease of beauty of his voice, But here, his voice is so magnificently beautifull! And the overal interpretation of this cycle (including orchestra) is simply genial and the most beautifull I have ever heard!

[hernanvuga]

estas chanson son verdaderamente hermosas

[clarksc1988]

A true master. Loved the heady quality at 0:33.

[einalemland]

Moi aussi, ce passage à 0:33 est encore meilleur dans la version que j'ai mis sur you tube, sans les images biensûr.

[JorPove]

Las obras mas conspicuas de la literatura musical dedicada a temas españoles pertenece a musicos franceses e incluso rusos,quienes con grande maestria han interpretado"el espiritu" y el "elan" hispano. Este magnifico interprete frances nuevamente nos pone de relieve esa compenetracion-necesaria e imprescindible-con la musica,la letra y sobretodo el espiritu del Quijote y toda su significacion en la literatura mundial.

[burtonfan101]

or just check wikipedia

[fornarinaa]

Does somebody know where I can find the lyrics of this song ?

[ELGRECOCER]

u should buy the cd - it comes with the lyrics

[lpw0021]

BRAVO!!!

[AmadeusJMB]

With exception of using falsetto for the high notes...he did an amazing job and was one of the best interpreters of French Melodie.

[Argyrakis]

There is only a slight hint of falsetto in most of the high notes in the first piece but he is most definately blending and the majority of it is definately in his chest voice. a stunning performance.

[miramar96]

It's called "voix mixte" , a blending of chest and falsetto, and French baritones are especially known for it. The voice type is called a "baryton martin."

[Nanette1944]

Notabilísimo, nadie como Gérard Souzay, para estas canciones de Maurice Ravel

[bellevillemusique]

C'est en quelle année ?

[hermanzoon]

Wonderful. I have never heard Souzay sing these or seen him in action, so to speak. Such a great artist he is!

[FelixJZhou]

Aw c'mon now WINTERMEYER, not all teenagers like me are mindless MTV-loving rap lovers. Sure, I enjoy some modern music but I can definitely appreciate and recognize superb talent like this. Its too bad I can't sing, at all, I guess I'm bound to stick with the guitar and piano.

[WINTERMEYER]

Reading the bulk of the previous comments is enlightening to this almost 73 year old former singer.

One can tell the listeners with positive comments are probably middle-asged and beyond. Those younger can't seem to get past the 'technique' to hear the man's near supremacy in this literature. A lesson for all young singers.

OCHS

[nolanb21]

I'm 14 years old and I can hear the tremendous talent in his voice.

[WINTERMEYER]

Good for you, young man....You have musical insight beyond your years...

[legato699]

In Racine's play, Le Cid, Rodrigue says : "Aux âmes bien nées, la valeur n'attend pas le nombre des années."

[BearMtl]

By the way, Le Cid was written by Pierre Corneille, not Racine!

[legato699]

Ah yes, that's right, Corneille.

[ascurtis05]

I'm in college now and my voice teacher gave me a CD of him to listen to.

As a Baritone myself, I have something to aim for. ;)

[einalemland]

J'ai 24 ans et Gérard Souzay est mon interpréte favori de Mélodies française depuis des années !

[i41mok]

I'm speechless...

I was fortunate enough to complete my Masters degree under his direction while he resided in Austin, Texas in the 80's. I had no idea these even existed. What a rare joy!

Thank you SO much!

[grupetto]

Amazing! As Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to the german music, Gerard Souzay is to french music, with his perfect sense of phrase, style, expression...Wonderful!

[Bozzyworth]

Amazing! Thank you so much for posting this video.

[stevevandien]

Souzay was a great artist; my primary voice teacher coached with him. He didn't have the most knock-your-sox off voice, but in his prime, it was beautiful and very well-used --

[giloubreizh]

Salut, Gérard!

A toi notre reconnaissance!

A nous, le plaisir de t'écouter encor!

Et toujours!

A nous les plaisirs et les jours,

A toi!...

(Salopie de star-ac!...)

[FlederKatze]

Amazing artistry! The fluidity of his voice, and the effortlessness floating of the head voice are stand outs. Always love his recordings but being able to see a video was even more inspiring. The old school of less is more, of expressiveness and intensity through the eyes are all very valuable lessons.

Thank you!

[ericjennings54]

When I was in music school, Souzay was king of the French baritone. What a gift to see these pieces I love so much. Thank you.

[eli52133]

thanks, i'm like him, too

[TheGerman6th]

@ericjennings54 He still is

[BurlyLumberjack]

@TheGerman6th Souzay was a great interpreter, but his technique wasn't great and he didn't have a particularly spectacular voice either (remember that he never really sang opera successfully). I consider Massard to be the best French Baritone ever recorded.

[thebananamonkey]

Look at how he's standing though... very strange with the hands there. I can't say i really like him that that much, too wobbly and could be way more tender in points. Just sounds a little cold. And could be more in time with the orchestra

[JCTII1965]

You have got to be kidding!?!?!

Sheeeeeeeesh!

[rafaelpelaezf]

Finally I have the opportunity to hear to this famous french music baritone. Thanks.

Does anybody have the other songs of the Ravel's cicle sang by Sousay? I would love to hear it !

[eli52133]

ok!

i'm try to find it^^

[SoulNotes1]

@rafaelpelaezf Search for ANYTHING of this golden voice! I have 2 cd's with lieder and they are fab!

[rafaelpelaezf]

@SoulNotes1

I you copy those songs on mp3 format and send it to me I would be grateful. :)

[SoulNotes1]

@rafaelpelaezf I have finally uploaded a song of his... I will load more if you are interested. Let me know.