This album sees Denis Raisin-Dadre pay tribute to the sixteenth-century poet Joachim du Bellay and his home province of Anjou, the beauty of which he praises here in this one of the most famous poems ever written in the French language. And featuring French singer Kwal, what a tribute this is. Like Du Bellay, Kwal was also born in this region, which is famous for its poets, wines and peaceful way of life. The singer makes three appearances throughout the album, where poems are read and then followed by a sober accompaniment from the musicians of Doulce Mémoire.
Joachim du Bellay’s poetry sings of his longing for his native land during his exile to Rome (much like Julien Gracq, another writer from Anjou, would later do). Denis Raisin-Dadre’s tour de force is to pay homage to a poet who, as he said himself, didn’t need music to accompany his verses.
Joachim du Bellay’s poetry serves as a magnificent excuse to celebrate the French Renaissance, with numerous composers laying down music both for his verses and for some written by poets from the Pléiade period. This major era helped unify French poetry and the French nation. © François Hudry/Qobuz