A few weeks after returning from Brazil, I'm hired to sing at the French Christmas Markets. Pianist Ed will accompany me on keyboard. He already knows some of the songs (from our mid-year show "A French Romance") so that's a very good start.
It's very exciting to be going this gig. It's a way to combine two of my favourite things - singing and French.
I remember the day I gave up French. The decision was swift and sensible, and tinged with a feeling of tragedy.
French was my favourite subject and I was good at it. But during the second year of my Law/Arts degree, I began to wonder where exactly French was leading me. Apparently, my next step would be to go to France and work as an au pair.
French was my favourite subject and I was good at it. But during the second year of my Law/Arts degree, I began to wonder where exactly French was leading me. Apparently, my next step would be to go to France and work as an au pair.
Living with a French family. Looking after their children. Doing the housework.
Really? I'm doing all this study so I can become ... a babysitter?
And then what? European languages are not very useful in Australia.
Move to Europe? Apply for work as an interpreter, competing with all those people who've grown up speaking several languages? You're dreaming!
I needed a qualification that would get me a job. I withdrew from my Arts degree and became a lawyer.
Over the years, I've attended French conversation classes, watched French films and travelled in French-speaking countries, in an effort to maintain my language skills. I've never attained the level of proficiency I hoped to achieve. But I'm sure that all that early language study has helped me to learn Portuguese over the past two years. Knowing how to learn a language makes it easier to learn new ones.
My French is good enough for singing, and I'm very happy to have this opportunity to use it.
My French is good enough for singing, and I'm very happy to have this opportunity to use it.
We're doing a 45-minute set. Ed comes to my house and we work through seventeen songs. Some of them are completely new for me. I discard some songs that are too difficult to learn in time for the show, and others that are not lively enough for an outdoor festival.
Ed quickly learns the new songs. He sight-reads the music, sometimes asking if there's a recording. Listening only once or twice, he pencils in the names of chords. It is a delight to work with someone so talented and conscientious.
After a total of four hours' rehearsal, we settle on thirteen songs. There's a good variety - songs in French, songs by French composers, songs from French films, and even a French Christmas carol.
Our final rehearsal takes place soon after the horrifying terrorist attack in Paris. When we practise the Christmas carol, my emotions get the better of me. As I sing "Joyeux Noël" tears begin to flow and I struggle to keep singing. I can't help but think about the people who will not be having a happy Christmas this year. Best to let this emotion come out before the event.
Our performance is on the Saturday evening, and we are requested to be there one hour ahead of time to set up. But when we arrive, a woman is on stage doing a cooking demonstration. She continues for an hour, until it's time for us to perform.
So when we step on stage, the audience is already in place. There is no sound-check or rehearsal. The first note I sing into the microphone is the start of our first song, and we adjust things as we go.
It's very satisfying, and an unexpected honour, to be performing at the invitation of the Alliance Française, ten years after my first hesitant foray into singing.
It's very satisfying, and an unexpected honour, to be performing at the invitation of the Alliance Française, ten years after my first hesitant foray into singing.
And it feels wonderful to participate in this demonstration of solidarity between Australia and France.
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