Debussy And His Muse

A seductive evening of music and storytelling - Youthful songs and compositions of Claude Debussy, inspired by his beguiling muse and first true love, Blanche Vasnier, recounting their passionate but unrequited affair

Gillian Keith Soprano
Simon Lepper Piano
Nina Brazier Director

"I was moved to tears by Gillian's exquisite singing and by this sweet tale of young, unrequited love. It makes for a perfect evening of music and storytelling."
Central Seen - London

"It was simply beautiful. I had no idea there was such a touching story behind all those songs." Audience Member (on preview performance)

When an 18 year old Debussy took a job as accompanist in the studio of fading diva Madame Moreau-Sainti, he fell in love with one of her most talented pupils, a captivating society lady with the voice of an angel - Marie-Blanche Vasnier. This green-eyed muse, 14 years his senior, mother, and married to Eugene-Henri Vasnier, well-respected civil engineer, sang her way in to his heart, as he charmed his way into the Vasnier household. During this period of great happiness, creativity and self-discovery, Debussy wrote nearly 40 songs, 27 of which were dedicated to Marie.

Through memoirs written by Vasnier’s daughter, this skilfully crafted recital of words and music leads us through their tale - Debussy’s love for Vasnier is poured out in the sublime music he wrote for her as a young composer, and a man in the throes of his first love affair.

Award winning duo Gillian Keith, soprano and Simon Lepper, piano have been enthralling audiences with their interpretations of French Song since the release of their original album, Debussy: Early Songs. Past winners of the Kathleen Ferrier Award, Wigmore Song Competition and Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition, Gillian and Simon have performed in the world’s major concert halls and festivals, including London’s Wigmore Hall, Usher Hall Edinburgh, New York’s Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Verbier Festival, and Musikverein Vienna.

Nina Brazier is "one of Britain's leading young directors of opera" (The Observer). She has worked as a Staff and Assistant Director for the Royal Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper, ENO, WNO and Opera North and her previous credits include productions for Ryedale, Lammermuir, Tête à Tête and Grimeborn festivals. As well as all this, she has been a visiting director at the Italian Opera Summer School, Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Birkbeck University.

gilliankeithsoprano.com
simonlepper.com
ninabrazier.co.uk