Métis 2010

On Friday through Sunday of this week, the under-dog of the Festival of Saint Denis will take place: The Métis Festival.

Hindi Zahra, Jeanne Cherhal,  Féfé and Speed Caravan are on the awesome program, concerts for all and concerts for free.

These concerts are dedicated to reunite electronic music of the oud of Mehdi Haddab (Speed Caravan) to the sweet sound of acoustic guitar of Hindi Zahra, with a true musical adventure of intstruement that cross the deserts of Middle East to the west. The rhythmic voice of Fefe and the clear voice of Jeanne Cherhal embark on a journey of singing and beautiful vocals.

Métis proposes a hot, colorable and accessible program for a moment of conviviality and dance in the court of Saint Denis and a couple of steps away from the Basilica of Kings.

Video On Demand from FSD

Videos of the concerts that you can see just until July 31, 2010
MESSE DE SCHUBERT
REQUIEM DE FAURÉ
LE OUD SELON SMADJ
SYMPHONIE N°4 DE MAHLER
STABAT MATER DE POULENC

Guide to the métro, tram and the RER

For all those coming to Paris, here is a quick guide to the métro, the tram or the RER, because more than likely you will experience one or all of these modes of transport!

1. There are 14 metro lines, 4 tram lines and 5 RER lines, therefore the first time taking the metro can, but it doesn't have to be a frightening experience!

• Remember your stop and the direction that you need to take to get to the stop ( I don't know how many tourists I have seen who think they are going to CDG when in fact they are going the wrong way!)
• For example, you are on line 4 at Gare du Nord and you want to go to St. Michel (same line), follow the direction Porte d'Orleans until St. Michel. 

• For a clearer explanation refer to ratp.fr interactive map of the transports - this map allows you to click on your starting and ending position and then gives the amount of time to arrive at your destination, the approximate price and also allows you to print it out

2. Keep track of your belongings, make sure they are next to you and keep your eyes on all of them.

• Don't let your cell phone, keys, credit cards or what not in your pockets you never know who's hands will find their way into them, better yet, keep your hands in your pockets or near them.

• Be aware of your surroundings, be aware of pickpocketers, you never know who has been eyeing you or your stuff during your journey and who has been making a plan to steal your stuff, I have seen it action, so please don't let it happen to you, you don't want to spend your whole trip in your nation's consulate - I imagine not a fun trip!

3. Take advantage of the metro, etc.

• Go to Disneyworld, end of RER A!
• Go to a football game (soccer) when in season @ Stade de France RER B
• Versailles - RER C
• Les Puces de Saint-Ouen - The Flea market or Puces de Vanves (line 13)
• Porte de Pantin and the Parc de Villette - line 5 or 7
• Basilique de Saint Denis - tram 1 or line 13

There are so many things to do in Paris, and the metro, tram, RER makes it easier, so don't forget that it exists, it makes life more easier, because you don't have to buy gas, find a parking spot and remember where you parked the car, and last but not least its only 30€ for a 5 day pass!

David Fray - the pianist

The rehearsal of David Fray was good, he is a perfectionist at piano. He is only 29 and a prodigy, plus married to Chiara Muti, the daughter of Ricardo Muti, one of the best conductors in the world. Plus he lives the nice life with his Prada piano sack, and his expensive Italian suit.

He was very particular about his phrasing, the crescendos and the decrescendos etc. Sometimes I felt bad for Emmanuel or Olivia his guests where he tried to get them to play the specific way that was good for him. As if he was his own conductor just like his father-in-law.

Laurence Equibley interprets Faure

Laurence Equibley is a great woman conductor, a rare gem in a sea if men especially in Paris. One could see her intense passion for the Requiem on her face, rarely was it a look of disapproval, and with each phrase a gentilesse. The rehearsal this evening not a typical one, there was an audience of children as part of participation in the culture and social actions part of the festival.

Often an opera of other classical music concert is too expensive for the school to pay for, therefore the festival offered free rehearsal concerts open to these low-income schools; who would otherwise not be able to see a concert of this nature first hand.

The orchestral ensemble of Paris lyrically played the melodies of Faure with lightness. This small ensemble and chorus empowered the room as if it was the London Philharmonic with it's chorus. Their sound filled the inside walls of the basilica plus echoed throughout the courtyard, who knows how it will sound on Friday the day of the actual concert. Probably more power with the bow and fingers lightly touching the string and keys.

Goran Bregovic - live

The concert was great and the crowd outside was just as enthusiastic as those inside the Basilica! Mostly those sitting outside were drunk just as the musicians inside who had done shots of Jack Daniels before going on stage.

The music was a mix of traditional Yugoslavian and hints at Bela Bartok, John Cage, and Pierre Boulez. The young comedian of 19, don't know her name, performed text based off the film "La Reine Margot" the music from the film was wrote by Bregovic. He then was influenced by his own music to write the text. She was really good and had all of her text memorized which was a plus and minus because Goran wasn't conducting her, but he got angry when she wasn't performing it exactly as "written".

The music at moments seemed film-like, similar to other pieces he had written and particulary the one he ha wrote for the film. One of the other interns said it was funny that the lyrics were about profane things and that the concert was taking place in the basilica royal. Standing outside looking in made me feel like at a rock concert with screaming fans and all!

Check out Goran Bregovic online!

The Oud according to Smadj, part 1

The sound of the oud fluttered in every part of the room as if we were being drifted off to some foreign land in the Orient. Smadj, a Tunisien, living in Istanbul, dedicated these series of songs to a woman he fell in love with in Istanbul ho ended up dying. It was a great concert which brought musicians from London and Paris itself, and in two weeks will bring artists from Istanbul, Algeria and Morroco! Some songs were a reflection on belly dancing music or others that followed a tranquil beat that recalled the death of his muse. Not only was it sounds of the Orient but a mix of manipulated and computerized sounds.The drums called tablas were very intriguing each different part of the drum created a different tone and in order to be tuned it needed to be hit with a hammer.

The trumpet was ok, he often had difficulty producing a sound and one could tell that Smadj didn't appreciate that it usually happened during the important melodic lines, but was perfect during the improv. It was ironic that he nailed the lines that he didn't pratice, but failed at those that he had spent a long time on. Smadj also manipulated the sound of the trumpet with the use of his 2 macs by creating an organ sound or a flute sound, it as definitely interesting.

Samples of his music can be found at his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jeanpierresmadj and he will also be performing next Thursday June 17 at the Festival de Saint Denis in the Basilica!

REQUIEM DES ROIS DE FRANCE DE DU CAURROY

The ensemble performing was called "Douce Memoire" which means Sweet Memory, and a sweet memory it was. Though I didn't see the actual concert, because I was in charge of keeping watch of the dressing rooms and helping with the reception, what I heard was good. The group performs with musical instruments from the Medieval and the Baroque period, about 10 instrumentalists and 6 singers (2 women and 4 men).

The concert was in memory of Henri IV's death and was influenced by the queens and kings of the court. Therefore, when the music started it was reminscent of the sounds one would hear in the 16th century. It made me want to process down the walkway like a princess, "Now presenting Princess Adrienne of Drancy"!

The main instruments used were recorders, bassons, a small pump with your feet type organ and a cross-between a trumpet and a cornette. The trumpet cornette sounded like a flute but it wasn't, I asked one of the woman playing these instruments to describe it and she said there was no relation with the flute.

The music echoed throughout the Basilica and echoed into the courtyard of the church as if angels were sending the music into the ears of the crowd. The only disappointment was the music and the echo did not stay in rhythm, this coming from a musician. But I guess not everything can be perfect.

This ensemble and their concert were great, the women's voices harmonized well and one could see that they loved singing as there was a sort of glitter in their eyes. The men were so enthusiastic when singing, they would just sort of jump right in, when it was their turn to add the harmony to the fugue.
And the instruments, one thing I could never forget... harmonized and sweet melodies never making a mistake, thus creating sweet melodies.