Amelita Galli-Curci-Crepuscule-Massenet

Galli-Curci sings a song by Jules Massenet called 'Crepuscule', or 'Twilight'. The words are difficult to comprehend, even to French friends, so if you know anything about this charming song please post a comment.

Now the words have been kindly supplied by eblackadder3 for which many thanks.

Comme un rideau sous la blancheur
De leurs pétales rapprochées,
Les lys ont enfermé leur coeur,
Les coccinelles sont couchées.

Et jusqu'au rayon matinal,
Au coeur même des lys cachées,
Comme en un rêve virginal
Les coccinelles sont couchées.

 Les lys ne dorment qu'un moment;
Veux-tu pas que têtes penchées,
Nous causions amoureusement?
Les coccinelles sont couchées.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Classical

[paulostroff99]

Never appreciated her to this degree before this aria! Brava!

[CharlotteinWeimar]

That's exactly how I felt.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

It is a beautiful recording made even more enjoyable by this fascinating information. Thank you so much for sending it.

[eblackadder3]

One of my favorite of her records. At :33 to :39 seconds you can hear the noon whistle at the Campbells Soup factory, which was next to the Victor Talking Machine Co. in Camden, New Jersey.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

That is fascinating to know. Many thanks!

[eblackadder3]

Here are the lyrics in French and an English translation: Comme un rideau sous la blancheur De leurs pétales rapprochées, Les lys ont enfermé leur coeur, Les coccinelles sont couchées. Et jusqu'au rayon matinal, Au coeur même des lys cachées, Comme en un rêve virginal Les coccinelles sont couchées. Les lys ne dorment qu'un moment; Veux-tu pas que têtes penchées, Nous causions amoureusement? Les coccinelles sont couchées.

[OrnishMathe]

I just Desire's renditions. They are indeed beautiful, but Galli-Curci's performance is transcendent and sublime, not bearing of comparison with that of any other singer. The spirit of this chanson is, I feel, essentially feminine.

[loetje]

Thank you so much for posting this gem; people say that refinement has evolved over the ages, and of course it has, but there have always been brilliant and refined virtuose people. Trying to travel through time, to hear shreds of old refinement, Amelita's sweet and hypnotic sounds are like some of the first important and divine beacons that you will reach; and in this recording i think better than i've ever heard her.

[FRANKHODGES39]

Hi and thanks for conserving the great voices of the past. Your video of Galli-Curci interpreting “Crepuscule” is an absolute gem. My older opera buffs always referred to her and I feared that I would never hear her voice with clarity and then, this marvelous recording! Please email me or post the year of the recording-Thanks Frank Hodges@verizon.net

[Zva26]

Voice, artist, and music are ideally combined to make something very, very beautiful and unforgettable. I may have some issues with the execution of coloratura of a lot of sopranos of this age,, but I yield to NONE in my admiration of their magnificent vocal endowments. Galli-Curci was such a singer to me. She had a voice of gold, and when singing lyrically, she made magic. This Massenet selection is a real beauty.

[Geirrendour]

This is so sweet! Galli-Curci's vocal tone is really that of a Nightingale.

[CurzonRoad]

Magic... THANK YOU!

[HM0880]

@meltzerboy

G-C restrains her faultless vocal virtuosity and instead displays her marvelous musicianship to deliver this other-worldly performance. Perfectly lovely. Meltzerboy, would you care to comment on some specific details that you found particularly enchanting?

[HM0880]

@eblackadder3

Thank you, eblackadder3! It's always helps to know what the singer is saying. :)

[meltzerboy]

@meltzerboy Actually, not so much the pronunciation is at fault as the rules of French diction in poetry and music: for example, she leaves out the final "e" sound of "rapprochees." The word "amoureusement" is mispronounced, but that's about it.

[meltzerboy]

@eblackadder3 And I CAN understand every word, even though G-C's pronunciation is not absolutely perfect. Henderson was right, after all, when he described Galli-Curci's timbre as "deeply colored." She not only shades her tone most beautifully but varies the volume in a subtle manner. And there are several wonderful details; one could write a short treatise on the art she uses in this song. This is exquisite singing not equaled by any other soprano.

[alainwilliam]

for my poor point of view the greatest colorature from 1915-1930 and a really phonografic voice very rare for soprano