Monteverdi Monday (with Haim Hair)

Eyebags pointed out that last week was Haïm Week at France Musique. To ensure that "Haïm Hair" remains a thing, I am posting this Warner Classics promo video for her recording of Monteverdi's Orfeo.

(Incidentally, I finally heard Haim the Band—they're not bad, but they're no Emmauelle!!)

Emmanuelle Haïm Speaks about Handel's "La Resurrezione"

The Berlin Phil posted this video interview on Facebook. When I clicked the YT video to share it, I got this message:

This video is unlisted. Be considerate and think twice before sharing.

So I thought twice, and quite a few more times, and I thought maybe I should just leave it alone. Then I thought, "If I am intrigued enough by this interview to go to the Digital Concert Hall and pay to see the concert, maybe some other people would be, too." (I found it most interesting when she talked about the unusual orchestrations in La Resurrezione and the very operatic tone of this oratorio. It sure made me want to go hear the program!)

I also thought, "Why post it if you don't want people to see it?" and, "I hope I don't get in trouble." Maybe they'd prefer you go directly to the DCH to see the interview. (This is why I just added the link—in two different places.) 

But in the meantime, I can name quite a few people in the blog world who would be really delighted to see this interview (fellow Haïm-heads, unite!) who may not regularly visit DCH or follow the BPO on Facebook. 

So here she is, Emmanuelle Haïm and her hair (in English, with German subtitles):  

I also thought, "I haven't posted anything for a while. I'd better remind the blogosphere that I am still here!" 

Unapologetic Awesomeness

The headline below from the Washington Post is not about Emmanuelle Haïm, the conductor (of opera blog Haïm Hair fame);  it's actually a review of the rock group, who performed at the 9:30 Club last night. 

However, I think "unapologetic awesomeness" is a perfectly appropriate way to describe the way Emmanuelle Haïm makes music!

Screen cap from her recent Monteverdi concert.

Must-See Monteverdi from France

Technically, Magdalena Kožená and Rolando Villazón are the "star power" in this program. Ms. Kožená really does shine (RV, not quite so much, but we still love him), especially in her solo turns as Octavia and the lamenting Nymph (She seems to be pregnant again, which lends a special poignancy to her Octavia. I'm surprised no director has explored the idea of Octavia being pregnant when Nero dumps her. Maybe someone has and I just haven't seen it.)

But the real stars here are Emanuelle Haïm and the vocalists and instrumentalists of her Concert d'Astrée. 

The program, a "Monteverdi Gala" performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées last February, contains opera excerpts and madrigals, and it's great fun. And of course, the music-making is marvelous as usual. Conductor, musicians, and the audience all seems to be having a great time. And you will, too!  

(Unless you don't like Monteverdi, in which case, you won't enjoy this concert at all.)

Meanwhile, here's the concert, as seen on the Arte Concert website: 

Haïm Hair, No Haïm (Bass-Baritone Andrew Craig Brown)

Andrew Craig Brown, Bass-Baritone,

as featured at Barihunks.

Haïm (Sorry, no Hair – it’s a radio broadcast) with Händel

Gratuitous
Haïm Hair
Photo

On Ö1Radio this week:

Händel: Aci, Galatea e Polifemo 

(recorded 10/12/2013 in Vienna) 

Emmanuelle Haïm leads Le Concert d'Astrée with soloists Lydia Teuscher, Delphine Galou, and Laurent Naouri.

Haïm Hair*

I am not talking about Haim, the Band, although they have hair, too. I am talking about Haïm, the conductor (conductress? conductrix?) and Baroque music guru. 

Emmanuelle Haïm is a talented and expressive musician, and a strong leader. A whole bunch of top-notch, not-necessarily-baroque-specialist singers have stepped on stage or into the recording studio with her, including Rolando Villazón, Joyce DiDonato, Topi Lehtipuu, Susan Graham, Natalie Dessay, Laurent Naouri, Ann Hallenberg, Véronique Gens, etc., etc.), plus the usual Baroque suspects.