Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Laurette (chansonnette)
“Fear the graceful smile of Laurette watching you
My dear friends beware of the soft language of her eyes.
Her eyes leave a secret wound from which
one does not recover in one day
So find me a Laurette among the ladies of the court.”
This charming little French song was published in 1828, a year which saw some major and definitive factors entering Fernando Sor's life. Sor finally settled in Paris after many successful years in London and Moscow, and in the summer of 1828 he ended his long partnership with the Parisian music publisher Antoine Meissonnier and became his own publisher in collaboration with Pacini. This chansonnette was among the last works published by Meissonnier.
During this time Sor also ended his relationship with the young celebrated ballerina and choreographer Félicité Hullin, who continued her very successful career in Russia while Sor stayed in Paris to continue his life in the French capital. The text for the song tells us about young and beautiful Laurette who charms everyone at the court, and though from the previous century, the text chosen for this song might indeed reveal Sor's personal sentiments at the time.
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Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Laurette (chansonnette)
Maikki Säikkä, soprano
Patrik Kleemola, early romantic guitar