As the Easter Holidays approach, I have some great news to share with you all, I have been asked by Scottish Opera and Improbable to join my friends Tim Connor, Stuart Semple and Laura Sergeant to perform ‘BambinO’ in Paris for the Théâtre du Châtelet this April.
But before leaving London I had to make sure that I returned all the books that I borrowed from the RCM library for my recent project ‘Women In Music’, my backpack was a lot lighter on the way home 🙂
I arrived back in Glasgow late on Thursday night and it was great to team up with my friends again on Friday morning for rehearsals to refresh the show for the French audiences. It is amazing to see how this wonderful mini-opera, written by Lliam Paterson and directed by Phelim McDermott, has progressed since we first got together back in December 2016. I can remember seeing the set and the costumes for the first time, designed by Emma & Giuseppe Belli, trying to visualise how the babies would respond to their imaginative use of props and move around the fabulous space created for each performance.
Following our performances in Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow last year I can’t believe that we will now get the opportunity to perform in several venues around Paris organised by the Théâtre du Châtelet, who have embraced the idea of making this production accessible to a wider audience. We will start the tour on 6th April performing twice a day in various locations until the 11th April. On the 13th April through to the 20th April, we will perform twice daily at Cent Quatre. The shows are free for babies with a small charge of four euros for each accompanying adult.
It will be such fun to practice my French with the audiences after each show and I hope that the babies can cope with my pronunciation. I’ve already started revising my French conversation skills and I would love to hear of any recommendations for nice walks, places to visit, French meals I should try to cook over the course of my visit. (The perks of having a self-catered apartment). It is such a fantastic opportunity for me to spend some time in Paris and experience the French culture which will hopefully influence my interpretation of French song. I will let you know how it goes and hopefully get some pictures to share with you.
Following my blog anniversary, I said that I would select three people from those who commented or placed a like on the post and send them a signed copy of my ‘Haugtussa CD’. There were 139 people in total so I used a random number generator to select the winners.
I am pleased to announce that the three-people selected were John Howell, Peter Alexander, and Dora Buonfino. I managed to contact John and Peter and have posted their CDs to them which should arrive this week (fingers crossed). I have just received Dora’s forwarding address and will try and post it to her before I leave for Paris.
Congratulations! BambinO was such a success for you, it’s lovely to think you have the chance to spread your fame further. As for Paris, I spent an Easter weekend there many tears ago with my ex-wife, visiting some of the classic places everyone goes. Do try to treat yourself to a trip on the Seine if you get the chance: we did la Tour Eiffel to Notre Dame. i hope you get to see the Water Cannons opposite the Tower as well. Have great fun.
My friend bought me a little book of walks to do in Paris which I hope that I have time for. Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun I’m a bit hyper at the moment– I just hope all the babies have fun too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful opportunity. Thee is so much to do in Paris but it looks like you are going to be very busy. Thank you so much for the CD. I will treasure it.
I’m glad your CD arrived safely John, the song cycle is based on a book of poems and translates as the maid of the hill spirits, or the Mountain maid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haugtussa_(Grieg)#Songs
Thank you for your constant support and encouragement over the years.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It is lovely. Thanks.
Wonderful Charlotte and congratulations. You will be sensational well done😘
Thanks Gill.
Best wishes
Charlotte
This is wonderful, Charlotte! Getting together with old friends and taking up a piece that you all love and enjoy is always a great experience. And to get to take it to Paris is especially wonderful! Enjoy, enjoy! Toi toi toi!
And thank you for the CD. I can hardly wait for it to arrive! I live so far from where you perform that having that extra bit of contact is something I really look forward to.
I hope the cd arrives soon and in one piece Peter. My little Mountain maid song cycle grows on you I’m reliably told my by Nana hehe.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow, what a great opportunity! I really enjoy Paris. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. I’m also sure the bambinos won’t be too confused by your British accent. 😉
My parents are going to be in France in April. I’ve visited three times, but this will be their first time. I think they’ll only be in Paris a day or two. They don’t have a baby with them, so I doubt if they’ll see any of your shows (if I was there, I’d stop by, baby or not…)
Anyway, enjoy the month of performing in Paris!
I’ve got quite a good French accent hehe, it’s the sentence structure I find challenging but pe po and ba, be, bi, bo, bu should be fine. I hope your parents have a wonderful first visit, I love Paris it’s one of my favourite places to go.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I’m sure they won’t be too confuse with the “pe, po and ba, etc” should be fine 😉 Paris is one of my favorite places in the world too. And for you to perform there is great!
Fabulous! Simply fabulous!
Thank you Benn 😊
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte this is great news! You will be abfab in your roll. Have a wonderful time, enjoy your performances, and congrats Charlotte!!!
Thanks so much Darlene.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
This is such a joy filled post! What fun it will be to perform Bambino again AND to have a whole new audience. You will do great and those babies will want to go home with you, I am sure. Congrats to your CD winners! Joy all the way around. 🙂
I’m trying to calm myself down at the moment I always get very excited before any trips and this is quite hyper-joyful. I just need to remember to take everything I need. My Mum sends me the odd text her latest was paracetamol.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Dear Charlotte,
Congrats for being selected to perform Bambin O in Paris, this is a great honor. May the Lord bless you richly my Beloved.
This is a great honour you are quite correct. I really do believe in this show though, I just want the babies of France and New York to enjoy it too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow wow !!!! Bravo !!! congratulation !!It is a very beautiful adventure that continues, I hope for you and your friends that this is only the beginning of Bambino’s trip !! It’s great !!! I am very happy and very proud of you !!!
Wow, Wow, Wow, getting hyper-excited now Pascal. Thank you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What exciting news! I am sure you will have a wonderful time in Paris. I am sure the babies will love you and their parents will too 🙂 Congratulations to the CD winners.
Thank you for your confidence Clare, every single show the babies react differently to so this will be very interesting.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congrats on doing Bambino again! So much fun! The kids will love it and so will the parents! Congrats to John, Peter and Dora for winning your CD! Lucky three! Hugs xx
Thank you Janice, John’s cd has arrived and I dispatched the other cds fingers crossed they all arrive safely.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You’re photo with bike would make a nice poster. Didnt know you knew french too.
Sing opera in french !? Cool 🙂
Yes Joe I sing in French I’ve been studying French for the past three years. I learnt German at school, then Italian. I also learnt a cycle of songs in Norwegian and Czech, I’d like to do more Russian for example but first I’m concentrating on German, Italian and French. So many beautiful songs.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow, that is wonderful that you have the opportunity to perform at various places in Paris. Have a great time there!
It’s a great opportunity I need to control my excitement so I can sleep 😀.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Good news for sure! Enjoy Paris and fabulous opportunities!
Thank you Sheila 😊.
My very best wishes
Charlotte
That’s wonderful, Charlotte. Have a great time, and enjoy Paris!
Thank you Margaret 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations! This post made me smile! It’s lovely to read exciting news. I’m sure the babies will love your French (and your singing!)
Thank you I hope they love it Nanette.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Fabulous news Charlotte, so excited for you.
What a wonderful experience you are going to have in Paris.
Well done.. Love the photo’s .😘😘
I’ve packed, then read the weather report, unpacked, repacked, then got a new schedule so had to squeeze some more outfits in. I’ve been on and off the scales checking my suitcase isn’t over the allowance. I had a lovely singing lesson to calm down 😄.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Bambino has certainly reached acclaim, Charlotte, and I’m not the least surprised! Congratulations on yet another feather in your cap!! 🙂
I like what you did there GP. I’m blogging this evening to relax, it’s not w o r k i n g 🐣🦆🌪.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Good luck, Charlotte! You should really enjoy France–I’ll ask Allie what dishes you should try to cook and let you know!
Best regards,
Cate
I’ve been testing new easy to cook recipes like Salmon and veg cooked together in a little packet, and other fish. I like things I can put in the oven and cook altogether in no more than 30 minutes 😄.
All my best wishes Cate
Charlotte
I am so happy for you! 🙂 Hope you have a lovely time. Enjoy Paris xx
Thanks Christine 😀. Must.. stay.. calm.. hehe. I just love singing and performing.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Paris in April and doing what you love – what could be better? Lucky Parisian mums! As for cooking, you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen so I’ll suggest big prawns flamed in Ricard or Pernod. Quick, simple, spectacular and delicious – just don’t burn the apartment down. You’ll find the recipe (from ‘My French Heaven’) somewhere on my blog
Good tip not to burn the apartment down.. laughing out loud.. my cooking skills have improved since I left home and I always try to make my own lunches to save money.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Oh my giddy aunt! How exciting for you. Paris!!!! OMG! What a busy time you will have. Not sure there will be much time for cooking – but perhaps a quick trip to the local market and a selection from what is fresh that day will decide you? Some buttered fish grilled with a scattering of almonds, and served with green beans is always light and sits easy. I imagine you have to protect your diaphragm from the tension of over-eating. Says the woman who can barely breathe because she’s pigged out on bakery items for the last two days . . .
Hahaha, first I love bakery items too and I’m going to have to be really good to resist fresh croissants and pain aux chocolate, I’m getting more adventurous with fish and I like omelette so I won’t starve 😀.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations Charlotte! What an honor. Be sure to post pictures of your performance. 🙂
Nancy
Thank you. I will do Nancy 😀
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow!
I remember your first post about joining the project and it is cool to see that like an infant, it is growing and changing. You should be happy that you joined the cast because this one seems to have legs and it should provide more opportunities as it grows.
Good luck and enjoy Paris!
I loved this project from the initial r & d week, I was so grateful to be offered the opportunity to perform last year, it’s a great crew and Paris and New York are just a dream. Thanks Steve.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I am so happy to hear that BambinO is going on to even greater (or smaller) people. I love Paris and I hope you have a great time there. For a blaze of medieval colour try and go to the Sainte Chapelle http://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en/ The website doesn’t convey the glory. I was listening to my iTunes on random last night, when I heard this soprano, with a faintly familiar voice and a lovely delicate vibrato… and when I checked it was you and one of the Haugtussa songs!
What a lovely message Hilary, I’m smiling away here. Thank you for your suggestion of Sainte Chapelle 😊. My cds were all recorded as I completed my training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, I’m hoping to record a new album at the end of my training at the RCM, I hope you can all hear my improvements. Can you believe we’re going to New York too!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte, you are succeeding in the hardest of all worlds. You must be thrilled and I am thrilled for you!
Beth, I think the reality has really hit me this year as I near the end of my Masters, there are so many wonderful singers I hope to continue and push through but there are no promises. I’m very excited to sing in Paris and New York for the first time.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
What a beautiful post to come back to WP and see ~ the opening photo is brilliant, you will charm Paris like no other, best of luck on taking Bambino to Paris 🙂 A fantastic experience, one of many more to come your way Charlotte, and also looking forward to hear more on your project, ‘Women In Music’ ~ one which you are definitely qualified.
I’m glad you got to see this I’m so excited for the opportunity Randall.
I was very confident in my presentation I learnt so much doing the project it wasn’t quite up to the mark. I will try to record my spoken words to go with each slide and still share the presentation because both Kaija Saariaho and Alma Mahler are the most interesting women.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Ah, Paris in springtime. Congratulations!
PM
I can’t wait to get going now. 😀
Best wishes
Charlotte
L’emozione si legge nelle tue parole. E emozionata sono io a conoscerti e poter condividere questa tua esperienza. Sono davvero felice per quel che stai vivendo. E sono onorata per il regalo che mi fai
Siete i benvenuti! Spero che il cd sia arrivato in sicurezza.
Auguri,
Charlotte 💕
Grazie ancora Charlotte. Appena il CD sarà arrivato ti farò subito sapere 🙂
Charlotte cara, sono felice di dirti che il cd è arrivato. Ti ringrazio ancora per questo bel regalo 🙂
Oh yay! You’ll be on my side of the Channel! Still a bit far though, and I don’t have a baby to bring with me to the show (and I doubt any of the moms at my church would let me borrow one of theirs). 😉
Haha. I’m so happy to sing in Paris, I have a few friends who wished they had a baby to bring along 😄.
Best wishes
Charlotte