Reynaldo Hahn Sings, Accompanies Himself on the Piano

The great French song composer Reynaldo Hahn was actually Venezuelan by birth, in Caracas on August 9, 1874. When he was three, his father became uncomfortable with the growing political unrest in the country and moved his family to Paris. At ten years old, Reynaldo, a child prodigy, was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire where, some years before Franz Liszt was rebuffed. Reynaldo wrote his first songs at age eight and composed his immortal "Si mes vers avaient des ailes" while he was still a mere child of thirteen years old! In addition to being one of the major French song composers of La belle époch, Hahn was also a respected conductor, music critic, diarist, theater director and salon singer. His songs are notable for their fine craftsmanship, remarkable beauty, and originality. He died in Paris on January 28, 1947. Program: "Toutes les fleurs," "Les Cigales," "L'ile heureuse" by Emanuel Chabrier (January 18, 1841 - September 13, 1894); "Offrande," "Venezia - Chè pecà," by Reynaldo Hahn.