Eileen Farrell sings Debussy's " Noël des enfants qui n'ont plus de maisons."

Debussy's last song, 1915, in which he lashes out at the countries who brought the horror of WWI to Europe. The homeless children of France cry out:
Nous n'avons plus de maisons! Les ennemis ont tout pris, tout pris, Jusqu'a notre petit lit! Ils ont brûlé l'ecole, et notre maître aussi. Ils ont brulé l'eglise et monsieur Jesus-Christ, Et le vieux pauvre qui n'a pas pu s'en aller! Bien sûr! Papa est à la guerre, Pauvre maman est morte! Avant d'avoir vu tout ça. Qu'est-ce que l'on va faire? Noël, petit Noël, n'allez pas chez eux, N'allez plus jamais chez eux, Punissez-les!
Vengez les enfants de France! Les petits Belges, les petits Serbes, Et les petits Polonais aussi! Si nous en oublions, pardonnez-nous Noël! Noël, surtout, pas de joujoux! Tachez de nous redonner le pain quotidien. Nous n'avons plus de maisons, etc. Noel, écoutez-nous, Nous n'avons plus de petits sabots: Mais donnez la victoire aux enfants de France!
We have no homes any more! The foe took all, took all, Even our little beds. They burned the school and our teacher, too. They burned the church and Lord Jesus Christ, And the old beggar who could not run away! Oh yes, papa has gone to the war, Poor mamma, she died Before she could see all this. What are we to do? Lord, little Lord, do not go over to them, Never go over to them: Punish them! Avenge the children of France! The little Belgians, the little Serbians, And the little Poles as well! If we forget any of them, pardon us, Lord! Lord, above all, we do not want toys! Try to give us our daily bread once again. We have no homes any more, etc. Lord, listen to us, We have no wooden shoes any more, But grant victory to the children of France!

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eileen
• Farrell
• soprano
• opera
• Debussy
• Noel
• des
• enfants

[EdmundStAustell]

No, actually it was after a Bach Chorale performance (Jan Peerce was the tenor, I talked to him also) in Winston Salem, North Carolina. I sat very close to her, on nearly the same level, and I was just amazed at that column of sound...I don't think I had ever heard anything like it. She was apparently very independent. There are lots of Farrell stories, usually involving some pretty rough language. She told conductors what she thought, pretty directly. That doesn't go over well at the Met:)

[racheleleeba]

@EdmundStAustell Was this after a Met performance? For whatever reason, she wasn't there long. Maria Callas reportedly said, "The Met thinks they have everything, but they don't have Eileen Farrell."

[EdmundStAustell]

Absolutely agree.  I love Farrell; always did. One of the voices of the century, imho.

[EdmundStAustell]

Thank you.  She was a wonderful singer. I met her once, back in 1964, after a performance. She was very down to earth and pleasant. My word, what a voice! I could hardly believe the vocalism--a solid pillar of sound all the way to the top. Amazing singer!

[racheleleeba]

The more Eileen Farrell on YT, the better. Thank you, Edmund.

[Bivolari]

She was a wonderful singer. So well schooled.