Like Cupid’s arrow, the voice of Mezzo-Soprano Laura Petravage pierced the hearts of the audience who delightfully were at the mercy of passionate vocal melodies expressive of the joys and sorrows of love. In the special Valentine’s Day concert at the Kosciuszko Foundation in DC., Petravage was accompanied by the masterful pianist Wanda O’Brien-Trefil and together they presented a selection of beautiful art songs by 20th century composers.
Laura Petravage chose a varied selection of love songs in a program entitled “Love Me or Leave Me,” featuring works by Poulenc, Kurt Weill, Peterburski, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Maguerite Monnot, Louiguy and Leonard Cohen. Conveying the complexity of the human heart and with great dramatic expression, Petravage sang 13 songs mastering 4 different languages. In a beautiful tribute to Edith Piaf, she sang “La Vie en Rose” made popular by the legendary icon of French love songs.
The finale, “Hymne a L’amour” (The Hymn to Love) by Maguerite Monnot with lyrics by Edith Piaf) captured the essence of the French art song. Petravage painted a picture with her voice, singing:
The blue sky over us can collapse on itself
and the ground can (really) cave in.
Little matters to me if you love me
I couldn’t care less about the whole world
As long as love will flood my mornings
As long as my body will tremble under your hands
The problems make little difference to me
My love, because you love me.
and the ground can (really) cave in.
Little matters to me if you love me
I couldn’t care less about the whole world
As long as love will flood my mornings
As long as my body will tremble under your hands
The problems make little difference to me
My love, because you love me.
Mezzo soprano Petravage is a graduate of American University and the Eastman School of Music and is currently completing her doctorate at George Mason University with a focus on early 20th Century French music. Her annotative comments were not only helpful in understanding the message of each song, but also very intuitive and intimately personal. Whether joyous or sorrowful, Petravage was honest in her expressions and interpretations, bringing many listeners to tears.
Amongst the many activities in which Pianist Wanda O’Brien-Trefil is engaged to promote the arts, she chairs the annual ACPC Marcella Kochanska Sembrich vocal competition for singers of Polish descent. Ms. Petravage is also of Polish descent.
Barbara Benrhardt, the Director of The Kosciuszko Foundation encouraged members of the audience to continue to support the programs of the Foundation, which promotes Polish culture in the United States.
