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Intermission Impossible Theater

Visit April in Paris with Marie-Stéphane Bernard

Do you know how to tell if you’re a real diva or not? If you’ve never been dropped on stage by a helicopter, you’re probably not a diva. Unlike Memphis treasure, Marie-Stéphane Bernard, whom you can see airdropped in the video below. 

Visit April in Paris with Marie-Stéphane Bernard

From The Merry Widow, Opéra Comique, Paris.

Bernard’s a native Parisian, who began her violin and voice studies in France and pursued her passions at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome. She’s played the great opera halls of Europe but lives just a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River. She is currently appearing at Playhouse on the Square in L’heure espagnole, for Opera Memphis’ Midtown Opera Festival, and tonight (Wed., April, 6) she’ll perform a concert titled “April in Paris,” which takes audiences on a tour of France in the 1950s via the music of Édith Piaf, Josephine Baker, and Charles Trenet. “The idea came from my presence here in Memphis and from being French,” she says, describing the street singers she enjoyed so much as a little girl. “We threw pennies from the windows, and they were happy,” she recalls.

To sample some romantic melodies gorgeously performed, you might consider throwing some pennies in Opera Memphis’ general direction. 

Visit April in Paris with Marie-Stéphane Bernard (2)

Visit April in Paris with Marie-Stéphane Bernard (3)

Visit April in Paris with Marie-Stéphane Bernard (4)

Categories
Intermission Impossible Theater

Marie-Stéphane Bernard performs selections from Offenbach at the Dixon

Marie-Stéphane Bernard

  • Marie-Stéphane Bernard

Marie-Stéphane Bernard, a native Parisian, began her violin and voice studies in France. She pursued her passions at the Santa Cecilia Conservatorium in Rome. She is actively touring in leading soprano roles throughout the great opera halls of Europe. She lives in Downtown Memphis. That’s right, Memphis. And Thursday, August 18 she’ll make her Bluff City debut at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, performing a selection of work by French composer Jacques Offenbach, to help celebrate the epic Jean-Louis Forain: La Comédie parisienne exhibition, currently on display at the Dixon.

Bernard has been routinely engaged to sing the role of Giulietta in the new production of [Offenbach’s] the Hoffmann’s Tales at the Leipzig Opera Theater in Leipzig, Germany and at La Fenice in Venice, Italy. She sang Métella in La Vie Parisienne by Offenbach at the Opéra Comique in Paris in more than 270 performances, and she sang the lead role in La Périchole by Offenbach at the Opéra Comique in Paris in more than 80 performances.

“Opera Memphis is pleased to present the local debut of an artist with such a breadth and depth in her operatic roles.” Canty said. “We are fortunate to claim her as a Memphis resident.”

Video of the Downtown Diva below the fold.