••• Featured on the United Nations WebTV •••
In celebration of the international day of “La Francophonie” and French language day at the United Nations, I wrote a new piece as an hommage to French poetry, music and culture. My piece is a contemporary setting of Théophile Gautier's poem “Le Spectre de la Rose”. It was premiered at the UN Chamber Music Society's 2021 virtual French concert in the late 20th century popular category of French composers.
GABRIEL MAJOU (1992 - ) 𝑳𝒆 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒂 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆
Camille Brault (Mezzo Soprano), Mathilde Giroux (Piano), Julie Hardelin (Violin), Esther-Helena Richard (Cello)
Recorded at 'Le Regard du Cygne' in Paris
All rights reserved
SACEM protected
Broadcasted on the United Nations TH-cam channel on Saturday, 20 March 2021
UN TH-cam: th-cam.com/video/8hYqmh8cctY/w-d-xo.html
UN WebTV: webtv.un.org/news-features/watch/Music-Society-Concert-in-Celebration-of-French-Language-Day/6241627821001
UN WebTV Facebook: UNWebTV/posts/4215333975145454
On Saturday, 20 March 2021, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) will present a virtual concert in partnership with the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the concert will take place on French Language Day, and will also honor the month of Francophonie - by celebrating the linguistic and cultural diversity of humanity, particularly through French language and music.
Language Days at the United Nations were introduced to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity and promote the equal use of the six official languages ​​across the Organization. These days are also an opportunity to sensitize the United Nations community to the history, culture and use of each of these languages. Founded in 2016, the UNCMS is dedicated to promoting the UN goals at large - through the universal language of music.
UNCMS website: unchambermusic.org
Brenda Vongova, Artistic Director
Théophile GAUTIER
1811 - 1872
🇫🇷Le spectre de la rose
Soulève ta paupière close
Qu’effleure un songe virginal ;
Je suis le spectre d’une rose
Que tu portais hier au bal.
Tu me pris encore emperlée
Des pleurs d’argent de l’arrosoir,
Et parmi la fête étoilée
Tu me promenas tout le soir.
Ô toi qui de ma mort fus cause,
Sans que tu puisses le chasser
Toute la nuit mon spectre rose
A ton chevet viendra danser.
Mais ne crains rien, je ne réclame
Ni messe, ni De Profundis ;
Ce léger parfum est mon âme
Et j’arrive du paradis.
Mon destin fut digne d’envie :
Pour avoir un trépas si beau,
Plus d’un aurait donné sa vie,
Car j’ai ta gorge pour tombeau,
Et sur l’albâtre où je repose
Un poète avec un baiser
Ecrivit : Ci-gît une rose
Que tous les rois vont jalouser
🇬🇧The spectre of the rose
Open your eyelids,
Brushed by a virginal dream;
I am the spectre of a rose
That yesterday you wore at the dance.
You plucked me still sprinkled
With silver tears of dew,
And amid the glittering feast
You wore me all evening long.
O you who brought about my death,
You shall be powerless to banish me:
The rosy spectre which every night
Will come to dance at your bedside.
But be not afraid - I demand
Neither Mass nor De Profundis;
This faint perfume is my soul,
And I come from Paradise.
My destiny was worthy of envy;
And for such a beautiful fate,
Many would have given their lives -
For my tomb is on your breast,
And on the alabaster where I lie,
A poet with a kiss
Has written: Here lies a rose
Which every king will envy.
Translations by Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
#GabrielMajou #LeSpectreDeLaRose #UnitedNations