Perpetual Music: Rolando Villazón and Renaud Capuçon mesmerise in Paris

In partnership with
Perpetual Music: Rolando Villazón and Renaud Capuçon mesmerise in Paris
Copyright euronews
By Katharina Rabillon
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

Rolex Perpetual Music is a concert series designed to help performers during the difficult time caused by the pandemic. Musica takes a trip to Paris' wonderful Palais Garnier to see the third and final concert in the series.

Baroque melodies, Gershwin classics, Latin American rhythms and chamber music treasures at Paris' sumptuous Palais Garnier; the legendary tenor Rolando Villazón and violin virtuoso Renaud Capuçon presented a spellbinding and wide-ranging journey for the third and final concert of the Rolex Perpetual Music series.

The performances have been in support of the world of music that's been so affected by the pandemic.

Renaud says it's been an essential series in that regard` - and in many other ways:

"All these young artists have been deprived of playing concerts and now they get the opportunity to play on this sublime stage surrounded by musicians more well known, like me or Rolando.

"They are at a stage where they're taking off and I think that now is the that we should support them."

Rolando says the response from those artists has been fantastic:

"It was very touching, the response. But above all, (there was) huge enthusiasm: 'Yes, let's do music together. This is fantastic'.

“One of them almost burst into tears and said 'you just saved me from trying to find another job because that's it, I need to start bringing food on the table'.

"Perpetual Music is a huge project, because it is a sign to the world to say: 'this art form is extremely important and it needs help'.

Art and music and classical music is not an accessory, it's not something that we say: 'well, this is not important'.

No: classical music, art: it's really essential.”
Rolando Villazón

Among the artists Rolando Villazón selected for the concert are the members of the early music ensemble L'Arpeggiata, performing some baroque gems, including Monteverdi's ancient story of "Orpheus".

Rolando is passionate about Monteverdi:

"When I encountered Monteverdi, it literally changed my life, just like Mozart. When you sing Monteverdi, you cannot only sing - you have to be an artist.

"You have to tell a story. You have to say the words - and give meaning to the words.

"I love Palais Garnier. It's a magical place, to see the Chagall painting up there (on the ceiling) and to be part of the tradition, the history of this extraordinary, gorgeous, historic place is very special.“

Euronews
"When I encountered Monteverdi, it literally changed my life, just like Mozart. When you sing Monteverdi, you cannot only sing, you have to be an artist." - Rolando VillazónEuronews

Renaud Capuçon is similarly passionate about the Richard Strauss inclusion:

"I'm madly in love with the music of Richard Strauss. 'Morgen' ('Tomorrow') is a completely luminous piece that seems to fly. It feels like when you play it, as if you are sailing over water.“

Euronews
"I'm madly in love with the music of Richard Strauss. 'Morgen' is a completely luminous piece. It feels when you play it, as if you are sailing above water." - Renaud CapuçonEuronews

Both of these celebrated artists have a strong message of hope - Renaud says, in that sense, Perpetual Music has been vital:

"Everybody has been impacted during this period. We have to draw inspiration from what we have been through and look to the future.

"We have to stick together and show solidarity. I think that's important, but I would like to say to all musicians: 'smile!' The stage will be ours again soon.“

Rolando agrees:

"Perpetual Music is a huge project because it is a sign towards the world to say: 'people, this is extremely important and it needs help'.

'Art and music and classical music is not an accessory, it's not something about which we say: 'well, this is not important'.

"No: classical music, art: it's really essential.”

You can watch the whole concert on Medici.TV

Share this articleComments

You might also like