From the Top returned to the Chautauqua Institution for Show #308 tonight in its opulent and resonant amphitheatre. Despite our vigilant monitoring of impending thunderstorms, the rains held off and our audience was rapt and attentive for spectacular performances by all our kids: my fave performance ever of Chopin’s Andante Spianato & Grand Polonaise by Alabaman Bluont-Slawson Competition winner, Elizabeth Tsai, a spellbinding Venetian Boatsong from Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words by cellist Megan Yip, who then joined me to Tango with 15-year old Sphinx Competition Winner, violinist, Hannah White in Astor Piazzolla’s Primavera Portena (they really got the style, such that I had to bow down to Hannah, I-Am-Not-Worthy-Style at the dress rehearsal). I got to revisit the harpsichord accompanying the masterful recorder playing of Corelli and Fontana by the spectacular Martin Bernstein. The show began with an astonishing traversal of Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Lukas Stratmann. Such a lady killer, that Lukas: he regaled us with his courting of his girlfriend, Emma, having a Magnolia Bakery cupcake decorated with ‘Girlfriend?’ in icing. Such a romantic. In honor of our young Byron, I premiered my own arrangement of Erik Satie’s most beautiful love song, Je te veux:
J’ai compris ta détresse
Cher amoureux
Et je cède à tes vœux
Fais de moi ta maîtresse
Loin de nous la sagesse
Plus de tristesse
J’aspire à l’instant précieux
Où nous serons heureux
Je te veux
Je n’ai pas de regrets
Et je n’ai qu’une envie
Près de toi là tout près
Vivre toute ma vie
Que mon corps soit le tien
e ta lèvre la mienne
Que ton coeur soit le mien
Et que toute ma chair soit tienne
J’ai compris ta détresse
Cher amoureux
Et je cède à tes vœux
Fais de moi ta maîtresse
Loin de nous la sagesse
Plus de tristesse
J’aspire à l’instant précieux
Où nous serons heureux
Je te veux
Oui je vois dans tes yeux
La divine promesse
Que ton coeur amoureux
Vient chercher ma caresse
Enlacés pour toujours
Brûlant des mêmes flammes
Dans un rêve d’amour
Nous échangerons nos deux âmes
J’ai compris ta détresse
Cher amoureux
Et je cède à tes vœux
Fais de moi ta maîtresse
Loin de nous la sagesse
Plus de tristesse
J’aspire à l’instant précieux
Où nous serons heureux
Je te veux
I understand your distress
Dear lover
And I yield to your wishes
Make me your mistress
We are far from moderation
And further yet from sadness
I long only for the precious moment
When we will be happy
I want you
I have no regrets
And only one desire
Near to you, close as can be
Living all my life
So that your body is mine
So that my lips are pressed by yours
So that your heart is mine
And that my body is pressed to yours
I understand your distress
Dear lover
And I yield to your wishes
Make me your mistress
We are far from moderation
And further yet from sadness
I long only for the precious moment
When we will be happy
I want you
Yes, I can see in your eyes
The divine promise
That your heart is in love
Come find my caresses
Entwined, forever
Burning the same flames
In a dream of love
We will exchange our souls
I understand your distress
Dear lover
And I yield to your wishes
Make me your mistress
We are far from moderation
And further yet from sadness
I long only for the precious moment
When we will be happy
I want you
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