© Warner Classics - Julien Benhamou
Lea Desandre : "It’s going to be a journey full of contrasts"
Interview
This season, Bozar is honouring four portrait artists: Julia Wolfe, Sol Gabetta, Fennesz and Lea Desandre. They will have all the space they need to show off every facet of their versatile talents over several concerts: whether large-scale or intimate, featuring early or new work, experimenting or returning to familiar terrain. French-Italian mezzo-soprano and portrait artist Lea Desandre looks ahead to her not-to-be-missed series of four concerts. Don't miss her gala concert on 13 May!
Who is Lea Desandre? The French-Italian mezzo soprano flits with panache between opera and love songs, often venturing beyond her passion for Baroque music. She can usually be found with her partner Thomas Dunford in the Jupiter Ensemble. In 2022, she was voted Sängerin des Jahres by Opus Klassik.
Which project at Bozar are you looking forward to most?
Lea Desandre: Chasing Rainbows (13 June) with Jupiter Ensemble might be the project I’m most enthusiastic about, because it has to do with my childhood dreams. It’s a celebratory show that combines my passions: singing, dancing and film.
In that concert, you'll pay tribute to Julie Andrews and the golden age of musicals with some of the most memorable tunes from The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, West Side Story and more. What is your first memory of Julia Andrews?
I must have been six or seven when I watched Mary Poppins, wide-eyed with wonder. Her voice, elegance, gentleness and her self-assurance: she is one of my greatest sources of inspiration. I often used to sing along when I was watching her films at home.
"Lea Desandre is the perfect embodiment of how young musicians embrace diversity today. They are capable of exploring new horizons, seeking out new things, taking certain risks and presenting themselves in a different way."
What appeals to you most in Handel’s music, since you’re going to perform several of his works?
His humanity and vocal intelligence. In my opinion, he was the composer who knew best of anyone in his time how to write for the voice. The vocal line comes close to Mozart’s, and his sense of drama fulfils my love of theatre and acting.
Can you reveal anything about the gala concert with the Belgian National Orchestra (13 May), a programma that celebrates the lively, theatrical spirit of opera buffa through masterpieces by Mozart and Rossini?
It’s going to be a journey full of contrasts, between celebration, lyricism and emotion. The musicians, my good friend Huw Montague Rendall (baritone) and I are hoping to create an event that will be both theatrical and intimate.
Do you have memories of Brussels or Bozar that you would like to share?
My memories of concerts in Belgium are warm and convivial. I have the sense of sharing an occasion with friends in an atmosphere of goodwill, joy and curiosity. A specific memory of Brussels? Am I allowed to mention waffles? (laughs)
Join Lea Desandre on 13 May at Bozar, and on 12 May at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, accompanied by the Belgian National Orchestra and baritone Huw Montague Rendall, in an elegant program featuring arias by Mozart and Rossini.
