Karol Beffa

Mes heures de fièvre

After Six Mélodies for voice and piano (on poems by Baudelaire, Hédi Kaddour and Olivier Dhénin), and Nuit mystique, for voice and string quartet (on poems by St John of the Cross), Mes heures de fièvre is my third foray into the world of vocal music. I was overwhelmed by the melancholy and chiaroscuro mood of these poems, blending 'the refinement of learned Andalusian poetry with popular songs [...], the romantic power of Espronceda with the tender tone of the most beautiful verses of Zorilla, [...], the intimist sensibility and irony of Heine.' (Robert Pageard) I was inspired by the bittersweet undertones, especially in the three poems I selected. They all deal
with the expression of loss. Antonio Machado once wrote: 'It has been justly said that De Bécquer was 'an accordion played by an angel' - and I agree: the angel of true poetry.'

The three melodies may also be performed independently. Honewer, should they be performed as a whole, it will always be preferable to follow the order in wich they are printed.

Commissioned by the Académie Européenne de Musique - Aix-en-Provence Festival, 2011 with the support of the SACEM.

Premiered on July, 20. 2011, at the Aix-en-Provence Festival (France), by Rebecca LOEB (mezzo soprano), Maxime DESERT (viola) and Michalis BOLIAKIS (piano).