NYFOS to Present JACQUES BREL & CHARLES TRENET: FIRE AND FANTASY, 2/19

The NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG continues its 25th anniversary season, honoring two of the 20th century's greatest balladeers in Jacques Brel & CHARLES TRÉNET: Fire and Fantasy on Tuesday, February 19 at 8:00PM at Merkin Concert Hall.

The Belgian and French pair of composers are celebrated with an authentic flair under the graceful touch of tenor Philippe Pierce, making his NYFOS debut, and mezzo-soprano Marie Lenormand, whom French music magazine Diapason praised as a "distinguished and emotive musician, whose every phrase is a model of simplicity and elegance."

This tour-de-chant includes some of Brel and Trénet's most famous pieces-Brel's "Ne me quitte pas" and "Madeleine," and Trénet's "Que reste-t-il de nos amours" and "La mer"-along with lesser-known treasures.

Joining pianist and NYFOS artistic director Steven Blier are virtuoso accordionist Bill Schimmel and Broadway veteran Greg Utzig on banjo and guitar.

A repeat performance of this program will take place on Thursday, February 21 at 8:00PM at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD.

Single tickets are available for $40-$55, with discount tickets available for students at $10, and a limited number of advanced purchase Real Deal tickets at $20. Every concert is accompanied by a post-show wine reception with the cast. For more information, visit nyfos.org.

THE PROGRAM
(subject to change)

Jacques Brel (1929-1978)
La valse à mille temps

Les paumés du petit matin

Sur la place

Les bourgeois

Madeleine

La chanson des vieux amants

Ne me quitte pas

Rosa

Ça va

CHARLES TRÉNET (1913-2001)
Vous qui passez sans me voir

J'ai connu de vous

L'âme des poètes

J'ai ta main

Le soleil a rendezvous avec la lune

J'ai mordu dans le fruit

La mer

Grand'maman, c'est New York (Fr./Eng.)

FEATURING

Marie Lenormand, mezzo-soprano
Philippe Pierce, tenor
Steven Blier, piano
Bill Schimmel, accordion
Greg Utzig, banjo/guitar