Tears at The Happy Hour

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I sit in one of the dives on 52nd Street… (WH Auden)

Love. Lust. Longing. Loss. Libido. These are some of the themes that run through this evening of songs by Pulitzer and Grammy award-winning composer William Bolcom (1938-). In his desire to break the barrier between “serious” and popular music, Bolcom blurs the lines between cabaret, classical, music theatre and even country music in his setting of texts by Auden, e.e. cummings, Shakespeare and his long-time collaborator Arnold Weinstein. The result is a body of work which reveals a darkly humorous, sardonic world view.  

US première: Baruch College Performing Arts Center welcomes soprano Rayanne Dupuis and pianist Guy Livingston, who are proud to present the North American première of William Bolcom’s “Poèmes libres de droits”, a new song cycle written for them, on poems by Guillaume Apollinaire: a wistful, surrealist tip of the hat to Bolcom’s formative Paris years.

Amor by William Bolcom, words by Arnold Weinstein; performed by Guy Livingston and Rayanne Dupuis (live in Paris)

Soprano Rayanne Dupuis and pianist Guy Livingston present love, lust, longing and loss at the cabaret. 

  • Guy and Rayanne
  • Guy Livingston and Bill Bolcom and Rayanne Dupuis
  • photo by Marilyn Smith
  • at the Mona Bismarck American Center in Paris

…and coming in 2021: a new show from Guy and Rayanne: “L’amour…et autres bêtises”

Teaser for “Tears at the Happy Hour” duo… music of Kurt Weill, William Bolcom, Leonard Bernstein, and Marc Blitzstein.

Through the music of Kurt Weill, Marc Blitzstein, Leonard Bernstein, and William Bolcom, they take us on a poignant, darkly humourous journey through the highs and lows (and dismal bottoms) of relationships. The songs are presented in their original language (French, German, English). directed by Sébastien Davis. This show is currently in development.