Rêvons, c'est l'heure !
A selection of delicate French chansons transports you to the dreamy world of the fin de siècle. It’s a wonderful place to linger among vocal miniatures by famous names like Debussy, Fauré, and Ravel — alongside the refinement of the lesser-known Reynaldo Hahn, who adds a surprising touch.
As evening falls on a warm late summer day, the soft veils of twilight set the stage for an intimate concert where poetry and music intertwine. Medieval texts by Charles d’Orléans inspired Claude Debussy, while Maurice Ravel penned his own lyrics for Trois Chansons — his only a cappella work. He himself described the second movement, Trois beaux oiseaux du Paradis, as ‘an exquisite ballad full of tenderness.’
By choosing the poetry of Paul Verlaine for his song cycle Chansons grises, Reynaldo Hahn crowned himself the undisputed master of the French mélodie — and the Parisian salons of the Belle Époque. Fauré closes the evening and ushers in the night with the dramatic power of Les Djinns, based on a poem by Victor Hugo.
CONCERT
programme
Claude Debussy Trois chansons de Charles d'Orléans, L.99: II. Quant j'ai ouy le tabourin (1908)
Reynaldo Hahn Chansons grises: V. L'heure exquise (1890)
Camille Saint-Saëns Saltarelle, op. 74 (1885)
Maurice Ravel Trois Chansons, M 69: II. Trois beaux oiseaux du Paradis (1915)
Ernest Chausson Poème de l'amour et de la mer, op. 19: IV. Le Temps des lilas (1892)
Gabriel Fauré Madrigal, op. 35 (1883)
Erik Satie Gymnopédie n° 1 (1888)
Reynaldo Hahn À Chloris (1913)
Claude Debussy Trois chansons de Charles d'Orléans: I. Dieu! Qu'il la fait bon regarder! (1908)
Reynaldo Hahn Chansons grises: I. Chanson d’automne (1893)
Gabriel Fauré Les Djinns, op. 12 (1875)
concert without interval (60')
presented by Koorlink
artists
Bart Van Reyn conductor
Koenraad Sterckx piano
Vlaams Radiokoor
with the support of Beside Tax Shelter and the Belgian Tax Shelter
practical
∙ 16:00 concert
∙ 17:00 end
location
Sint-Margarethakerk Tielen ∙ Tielendorp, 2460 Kasterlee
L’HEURE EXQUISE
poetry
La lune blanche
Luit dans les bois ;
De chaque branche
Part une voix
Sous la ramée...
Ô bien-aimée.
L’étang reflète,
Profond miroir,
La silhouette
Du saule noir
Où le vent pleure...
Rêvons, c’est l’heure.
Un vaste et tendre
Apaisement
Semble descendre
Du firmament
Que l’astre irise...
C’est l’heure exquise.
Paul Verlaine
La bonne chanson
playlist
Dive into the twilight atmosphere of the concert and let the music wash over you. Stream the playlist now on Spotify.