Today is the birthday of two outstanding French composers: Jules Massenet (born 1842) and Gabriel Fauré (born 1845). Massenet’s fluency and emotionally direct style made him the most successful French opera composer of his generation. Fauré was the radical who blew the dust off the Paris Conservatory and ushered in an era of unprecedented reform.
Here are two absorbing recordings by these very different French masters:
Soprano Emma Calvé sings “Pendant un an je fus ta femme” from Massenet’s “Sapho,” a role she created (be advised, the recording doesn’t start until about 15 seconds in):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhs88jKmT08
The elegant Samson François performs Fauré’s Nocturne in B Major, Op. 33, No. 2:
Joyeux anniversaire, mes amis!
PHOTOS: Fauré (left) and Massenet getting a little fresh air