Songs of Experience Ensemble Perspectives and Geoffroy Heurard

• David Bowie (1947-2016):
• 1Life on Mars? (Arr. P. Lawson for Vocal Ensemble)03:27
• John Tavener (1944-2013):
• 2The Lamb03:27
• Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900):
• 37 Partsongs: No. 6, The Long Day Closes03:58
• André Caplet (1878-1925):
• 4Mass: O Salutaris02:42
• 5Mass: Sanctus03:13
• Traditional:
• 6Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair (Arr. V. Manac'h for Vocal Ensemble)03:55
• Maurice Ohana (1878-1925):
• 7Chansons populaires espagnoles (Arr. V. Manac'h for Vocal Ensemble): No. 2, Las mis penas son de amores01:48
• 8Chansons populaires espagnoles (Arr. V. Manac'h for Vocal Ensemble): No. 3, Cuando paso por el puente01:07
• 9Chansons populaires espagnoles (Arr. V. Manac'h for Vocal Ensemble): No. 1, Cantares del querer lejos02:19
• Thomas Tallis (1505-1585):
• 10Lamentations of Jeremiah II05:07
• Edward Elgar (1857-1934):
• 113 Partsongs, Op. 18: No. 1, O Happy Eyes03:03
• Henri Salvador (1917-2008):
• 12Syracuse (Arr. E. Planel for Vocal Ensemble)03:06
• Traditional:
• 13Green Grow the Lilacs (Arr. L. Larsen for Vocal Ensemble)02:29
• Edward Elgar:
• 143 Partsongs, Op. 18: No. 2, Love02:44
• Franz Schubert (1797-1828):
• 154 Gesänge, D. 983: No. 4, Die Nacht (Arr. P. Lawson for Vocal Ensemble)02:49
• Michelangelo Rossi (1601-1656):
• 16O miseria d'amante04:01
• Jacques Brel (1929-1978):
• 17Bruxelles (Arr. E. Planel for Vocal Ensemble)03:31
• Marcos Valle & Paulo Valle:
• 18Batucada (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble)02:12
• Total Runtime54:58

Info zu Songs of Experience

Perspectives is an a cappella ensemble comprising five singers who explore every kind of music, from the Renaissance to jazz and popular song. Their new album, ‘Songs of Experience’, is a journey through emotions and sentiments. ‘This programme enables contemporary ears to grasp the temporal threads that link Tallis to Tavener, a folksong to a song of today, the better to make their perspectives resonate’, says the group’s founder, Geoffroy Heurard.

The ensemble invites us on a musical itinerary that begins in the Renaissance, enters Romantic territory with Schubert, then traverses the golden age of choral music in the Victorian age, and makes a detour by way of Ohana’s Spain before reaching Jacques Brel and a legendary David Bowie song of 1971, Life on Mars, which is a sensation in the exceptionally inspired interpretation of the five members of Perspectives. With Mathilde Bobot soprano, Marie Pouchelon alto, Sean Clayton tenor, Romain Bockler baritone, Geoffroy Heurard bass-baritone, musical director.

Mathilde Bobot, soprano
Marie Pouchelon, alto
Sean Clayton, tenor
Romain Bockler, baritone
Geoffroy Heurard, bass baritone, musical director

Perspectives
was born with this aim: to concieve concerts in a different way, to bring together different influences. Like a sundial which shadows are moving throughout the day, we see the concert like a building lit differently depending on the hours of the day or the place we look at it, and which shows each time a different perspective.

With each listening, record or concert, we want to go beyond time and space, put various influences into perspective and allow different styles to meet.

The artistic notion of perspective, which emerged during the Renaissance and insists on respecting the right proportions in construction, directions and lines, are just as essential in music. In this same period, the painting, such as Giotto’s, plays with colors, tones, nuances.

Perspective: a modern notion, a reflect of this alliance between the past and the present world.

Perspective: an architectural notion, a way to create a sound, not only by superposing different voices, but also by looking for a specific mblend, a perfect merge between tones on which one can build, resonate and vibrate.

Perspectives: five voices serving one instrument, one we try to polish like a stringed-instrument maker with his violin, to shape using the infinite scope of colors that the human voice possesses. Our voice is not only an instrument but also the unique tool through which we can express our diversity.

Perspectives, a word which expresses this desire of diversity, through using the same professionalism when singing a sacred opus from the Renaissance, a song, a modern creation or a jazz masterpiece, all kinds of musical styles which we have grown up with and which make us what we are.

We are happy to see that our approach is positively perceived by the public, glad to be taken in this musical journey. For us, it is not only a challenge but also a great satisfaction.

When we sing with Perspectives, we want to transmit our passion for this a cappella art while preciously conserving this ability to be enchanted, using original musical orientations.

Perspectives is composed of five singers (soprano, alto, tenor, baryton, bass-baryton) who can sing as a trio, a quatuor or a quintet, different configurations which indefinitely strengthens their affinities.

All having classical backgrounds (CNSM, CNR, Maîtrise de Radio France, CMBV…), the members of Perspectives met while they were singing in different ensembles with which they sang in some of the greatest french and international festivals.

Under the direction of Geoffroy Heurard, they decide in 2012 to create their own ensemble with the desire to explore the diversity of the a cappella repertoire, from Clement Janequin to György Ligeti, and from Duke Ellington to the Beatles.

Convinced that bringing together classical music and modern songs can only enrich their concerts, they offer eclectic programmes.

Geoffroy Heurard
enters the Conservatoire National de Musique de Paris (CNSMDP) after a Master in Litterature and music at University of Paris La Sorbonne. He practices in particular the Lied and French melody, as well as the baroque repertoire, under the supervision of Emanuelle Haïm.

Winner of the Lavoisier scholarship, he enters the prestigious Universität für Musik and darstellende Kunst of Vienna (Austria), where he studies Lied and Oratorio under the supervision of Charles Spencer.

Selected for the 5th European lyric forum in Arles, he can also be heard on stage singing Budd (Albert Herring from Britten) or Ben (The Telephone from Menotti), and in modern operas.

Geoffroy Heurard has a specific interest for recitals, and he recently interpreted in Paris Die Winterreise from Schubert, the Dichterliebe and Liederkreis from Schumann, as well as melodies from Duparc. He sings on a regular basis with Correspondances (under the direction of Sébastien Daucé), Pygmalion (under the direction of Raphaël Pichon), the Cris de Paris (under the direction of Geoffroy Jourdain) and the Arts Florissants (under the direction of William Christie).

He was a student in various masterclass, including under the supervision of Walter Berry, Rotraud Hansmann, Craig Rutenberg, Jean-Christophe Benoît, Russel Ryan, Pierre Mervant, Rachèle Yakar, David Pittman Jennings, Nicole Fallien and with the ensemble the King’s singers.

Winner of the Foundation Banque Populaire, he creates Perspectives in 2011.

Booklet für Songs of Experience