Last Friday, the Guadeloupean soprano Leïla Brédent and the Quebec pianist Dominic Boulianne introduced the students of 5e CHAM (Music-focused class with flexible timetable) from Soualiga College and CE2 class at the Élie Gibs school.
In the college's new music room, the two artists, present in Saint-Martin for the Rotary Club charity concertsinterpreted four works, Mozart à Puccini, including excerpts from Faust by Charles Gounod and Lakme de Léo Delibes.
For Leïla BrédentThis meeting has a special meaning. The singer regularly visits schools in Guadeloupe to introducing children to opera singing “When you hear it live, it evokes emotions that can ignite passions.” She also wanted to show them that “anything is possible.” Her own journey is proof of that. At 20, after graduating from high school in Guadeloupe, she discovered opera singing at the conservatory in mainland France, where she continued her musical studies. Today, she is an opera singer.
At Soualiga College, the fifty or so students, who had not yet never heard live opera ariasThey were curious: “Do you get stage fright?” “Have you ever hit a wrong note?” The artists patiently explained the requirements of their profession et the importance of interpretation“I think what you’re doing is magnificent,” said a 5th grade student, captivated by the performance.
The importance of continuity in the musical journey
The arrival of the two artists also highlighted the importance of continuity in musical pathways within the school settingFrom primary school to middle school. A continuity which unfortunately breaks down at the high school in Saint-Martin. Antoine GrandemangeThe teacher of the music-focused class (CHAM) at the middle school regrets this disruption, which prevents some students from pursuing their passion in a structured environment and from meeting professionals from different backgrounds. These exchanges could, however, open up new perspectives to these young musicians, as illustrated by the visit of Leïla Brédent and Dominic Boulianne. To extend this discovery, two tickets for the evening concert were raffled off, giving two students the opportunity to see the artists on stage.DR
