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As every year, excellence and magnificence intertwine throughout the Festival de Musique de Saint-Barthélemy. The 41st edition was no exception. After a divine opening by eight dancers from the corps de ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris, gracefully introduced on the stage of the Ajoe plateau in Lorient by the Dance With Kim troupe, the guest musicians took over to continue to amaze the island's spectators.
On Monday January 13, Gustavia's Catholic church hosted a concert for children. Seven musicians and a storyteller performed Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf", before students from the Saint-Barth Harmony and Om'Violin music schools took their turn. This touching family evening was followed on Tuesday by the ever-popular candlelight concert at Gustavia's Anglican Church. These were magical moments for the many people who had literally stormed the pews of the place of worship.
On Wednesday, a grand orchestral evening was organized in the Lorient church. A perfect introduction to the Festival's grand finale.
On Thursday, in Gustavia's Catholic church, piano wizard Olga Zado took the audience into sublime musical realms. She performed Francis Poulenc's trio for oboe (Alecia Lawyer), bassoon (Andresw Brady) and piano, Chopin's Mazurka, Schumann's Fantasie Stücke for clarinet (Jon Manasse) and piano, Chopin's Introduction and Polonaise brillante with Nina Bernat on double bass. After intermission, Dvorák's Quintet for Piano and Strings No. 2 in A major will be heard on violin by Jennifer Frautschi and Alexi Kenney, viola by Nora Chastain and cello by Francis Gouton.
Excerpts from Italian operas
This Friday, January 17 in Lorient church (8pm), conductor Ted Sperling will lead the musicians in excerpts from Italian operas. The program features works from the repertoires of Rossini, Puccini and Verdi. From the Barber of Seville to William Tell, La Bohème, La Traviata, Otello and Rigoletto.
A jazz finale
To close the Festival, a jazz quintet will take over Gustavia's Anglican Church for two evenings (Saturday, January 18 at 7.30pm and Sunday, January 19 at 6pm): March Mallow. Under Astrid Veigne's sunny voice, Eric Doboka on guitar, Thomas Plès on double bass, Christian d'Asfeld on piano and Thomas Leverger on saxophone will take the audience into a less "classical" universe. At first sight. Because, if you think about it, the boundary between classical music and jazz is very fine. "It's surprising, because we just took part in a radio program on France Musique devoted to classical music and emerging musicians," laughs Eric Doboka, the band's guitarist. For us, it's going to be a new configuration with a new saxophonist, but also the environment in which we'll be playing (in the Anglican church)," points out Astrid Veigne. It's going to do us a world of good, because we're going to play the pieces differently, and approach things differently. "Much to the delight of the audience.
Reservations and prices
Tickets can be purchased on the Festival website (www.saintbarthmusicfestival.com).
- Evening of Italian opera excerpts, Friday at 8 p.m. in Lorient (church): 50 euros.
- March Mallow jazz concert, Gustavia Anglican Church: 30 euros. Saturday (sold out) and Sunday at 6 p.m.: 30 euros.
