Barbara Hannigan's latest collaboration with French pianist Bertrand Chamayou has left audiences and critics alike in awe of its sheer musical magic. The duo's rendition of John Zorn's Jumalattaret, inspired by Finland's national epic the Kalevala, is a hauntingly beautiful work that weaves together disparate elements from folk songs, rock grooves, plainchant, and jazz to create something entirely new.
In the hands of Hannigan, this "unperformable" piece becomes a deeply personal and primal experience. Her voice morphs seamlessly between personas, conveying the raw emotions of the text through a series of yelps, keening cries, guttural moans, and shouts. Chamayou's piano provides the perfect counterpoint, adding percussive elements that amplify Hannigan's vocals.
What sets this performance apart is its sense of strangeness and beauty. There's no need for grand gestures or showy displays; instead, the focus is on the raw emotional power of the music. The combination of Chamayou's piano and Hannigan's voice creates an exhilarating listening experience that's both mesmerizing and humbling.
The pairing with Messiaen's 1938 Chants de Terre et de Ciel adds another layer of depth to the performance. This work shares a similar spiritual intensity, answering the feminine mysticism of Zorn's piece with the sternly masculine theology of Catholicism. The piano's French-inflected vowels add a sense of intimacy and connection, as Hannigan tenderly caresses the composer's texts through her voice.
The audience was clearly entranced by this performance, hanging on every word and note. But it's not just applause that matters here – it's the silence that follows the final bow, a silence that speaks volumes about the raw emotion and vulnerability that Hannigan brings to the stage. This is no mere performance; it's an experience that gets close to being a confession.
In the hands of Hannigan, this "unperformable" piece becomes a deeply personal and primal experience. Her voice morphs seamlessly between personas, conveying the raw emotions of the text through a series of yelps, keening cries, guttural moans, and shouts. Chamayou's piano provides the perfect counterpoint, adding percussive elements that amplify Hannigan's vocals.
What sets this performance apart is its sense of strangeness and beauty. There's no need for grand gestures or showy displays; instead, the focus is on the raw emotional power of the music. The combination of Chamayou's piano and Hannigan's voice creates an exhilarating listening experience that's both mesmerizing and humbling.
The pairing with Messiaen's 1938 Chants de Terre et de Ciel adds another layer of depth to the performance. This work shares a similar spiritual intensity, answering the feminine mysticism of Zorn's piece with the sternly masculine theology of Catholicism. The piano's French-inflected vowels add a sense of intimacy and connection, as Hannigan tenderly caresses the composer's texts through her voice.
The audience was clearly entranced by this performance, hanging on every word and note. But it's not just applause that matters here – it's the silence that follows the final bow, a silence that speaks volumes about the raw emotion and vulnerability that Hannigan brings to the stage. This is no mere performance; it's an experience that gets close to being a confession.
, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this performance! The way Barbara Hannigan's voice morphs into different personas and conveys raw emotions through yelps, keening cries, guttural moans... it's like she's channeling the music itself 
. And Bertrand Chamayou's piano is the perfect accompaniment, adding these percussive elements that amplify her vocals to perfection 
. It's like they're speaking a language we can't quite understand, and that's what makes it so beautiful! Interesting 
The piano accompaniment adds this whole new level of depth and emotion. And I love how they didn't go for all the fancy production stuff - it's just pure, raw feeling 
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...and chamayou's piano is the perfect partner in this dance of sound 
...it's an experience that stays with you long after it's over, leaving you feeling humbled and a little shaken 
...the silence after the performance is almost as important as the applause itself, it's like they're sharing a secret with you 
.
It's not just the music that's impressive, it's the silence afterwards too... you can feel the weight of what she's shared with you 
her range is crazy too! i mean, she goes from these super quiet, introspective moments to all-out wailing and it just works so well. Chamayou's piano is like the perfect foil, you know? adds this whole other level of depth & emotion to the performance 
. and when they add Messiaen's Chants de Terre et de Ciel, it's like the whole thing comes together in this beautiful, spiritual way 
. i was on the edge of my seat during the performance, but even more so after it was over... the silence that followed just spoke volumes about the power of their music 
. But what really got me was how vulnerable she seemed, like she was exposing her very soul to us all... it's not often you feel like you're witnessing something truly raw and honest on stage 
. I love how the pairing with Messiaen's Chants de Terre et de Ciel added this whole other layer of depth - it's like she was speaking directly to me through her voice 
. And that silence after the final bow? I'm still feeling the aftershocks of it, to be honest 
. And the piano accompaniment is perfect, it adds this extra layer of depth to the performance 
I was blown away by this performance! Barbara Hannigan's vocal range is insane 
. And Bertrand Chamayou's piano playing is so understated yet so perfect, it adds this whole new layer of depth to the music 
I mean, I've seen some incredible performances in my life, but this one is on another level! The way they've woven together these different musical styles and genres to create something entirely new is pure MAGIC 
And the way Messiaen's piece is paired with Zorn's is like a match made in heaven 
. I mean, its just a bunch of weird sounds strung together. Barbara Hannigan's all like she's wailing and screaming but honestly its kinda annoying 
. Bertrand Chamayou's piano is cool and all but it just feels like he's playing the same old notes over and over again 
. I mean I know some people are into that sorta thing but I'd rather be listening to something that actually moves me, like maybe some chill electronic beats or a sick rap track 
The Messiaen piece they added just takes it to another level 
. And Chamayou's piano work is like the perfect complement to it, it's like he's creating this entire world of sound around her. The way they blend folk, rock, plainchant, and jazz together is just pure magic 
And Bertrand Chamayou's piano work is like the perfect complement to her vocals - it adds this whole new level of percussive energy to the performance.