Since the beginning of their collaboration in 2004, David Lefort and Simon Zaoui have regularly performed in recital with various programmes: French song (Gounod, Poulenc, Fauré, Ravel) and lieder (Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn). In 2007 they attended a master class in interpretation with Ruben Lifschitz at the Abbey of Royaumont. This great specialist of lied and art song led them to discover the little-known score of Biondina by Charles Gounod. They thereupon developed a real affinity for this work, and — encouraged by Ruben — decided to compose a programme around this cycle. Biondina, composed in 1872, is historically speaking the first cycle of songs written by a French composer in the 19th century.
David Lefort, ténor Simon Zaoui, piano
Charles Gounod (1818-1893) Bondina "Roman musical" en 12 chapitre, pour ténor et piano 1. Prologue : Da qualche tempo 1'31 2. Biondina bella 3'45 3. Jer l'ho scontrata 2'00 4. Le labbra elle compoe 2'55 5. E stati alquanto 1'36 6. Ho messo nuovo corde 1'41 7. Se come io son poeta 2'37 8. Siam'iti l'altro giorno 1'31 9. E le campagne hanno suontato 2'54 10. Ell 'è malata 3'06 11. Jer fu mandata 2'48 12. L'ho campagnata 3'39 13. La Veneziana 3'16 14. Venise 4'01 15. La Pervenche 2'29 16. La Rondinella pellegrina 1'56 17. Oh! Dille tu! 2'36 18. Le Ruisseau 2'29 Francesco Paolo Tosti 19. Non t'amo più 2'49 20. Tormento 2'49 21. L'ultima canzone 3'57
