Martial Singher coaches "Je dis que, rien ne m'épouvante"

Martial Singher coaches "Je dis que, rien ne m'épouvante"
Accompanist: James Massengale
From Carmen by Georges Bizet (1875)
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the story by Prosper Mérimée (1845)
Archive video from THE FESTIVAL OF LEARNING AND PERFORMING, c. 1978
This is the camp of the smugglers.
He is here! I will see him, and without trembling,
I will accomplish the task his mother gave me.
I insist that with nothing frightening me --
Alas! -- I can account for myself,
But it's not easy to pretend to be brave
When, in my heart, I'm dying of fright.
Alone in this savage place, all alone, I'm afraid,
But I'm wrong to be afraid.
You will give me courage.
You will protect me, Lord!
I am going to see her face to face,
This woman whose cursed contrivances
Have turned the man I loved into a criminal.
She is dangerous. She is beautiful! But I will not be afraid.
I will speak clearly in her presence.
Lord, you will protect me.
Protect me, Lord! Give me courage.
Exsultate! Productions is proud to host the video archives of the FESTIVAL OF LEARNING AND PERFORMING. The Festival was created in the early 1970's by Susan Brenner to give young singers the opportunity to work with master artists, and apply their knowledge by performing in the community. Classes were open to the public and encompassed the interpretation of opera, art song, operetta and musical theater, as well as movement and physical conditioning. Classes with Charles Roe, Calvin Simmons, and Martial Singher were videotaped for the Festival's archives, allowing new audiences to be inspired and enriched by the great teaching that is the legacy of Susan Brenner.
Martial Singher (1904-1990) debuted at the Paris Opera in 1930, and at the Metropolitan Opera in 1943, where Virgil Thomson wrote of his "incomparable elegance" and "perfection of vocal style." He sang for 12 seasons at the Met, also appearing with the opera companies of Chicago and San Francisco, with leading orchestras, and in recital. He taught at Mannes College of Music, the Curtis Institute, and Music Academy of the West, and received the order of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. In 1983 he published "An Interpretive Guide to Operatic Arias."