Habanera “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (from the Opera “Carmen” by Georges Bizet)
Louise Howlett (Soprano), Albert Combrink (Piano)
LIVE RECORDING Fismer Hall, Stellenbosch Conservatory, August 2012

“Cinema Serenade” is a show which celebrates the world of the silver screen, through some of the greatest arias, jazz standards and ballads ever written. From A Room with a View to James Bond to Moulin Rouge, Louise & Albert seamlessly move across the styles of Puccini, Bizet, Rogers and Hammerstein, Hoagy Carmichael, John Barry and more. This programme has become the trademark of these two multi-talented performers providing something for everyone.

For more information: singing-lady@hotmail.com or visit: http://www.louisehowlett.co.za or http://albertcombrink.com
Buy the Album and Download Tracks at: https://www.albertcombrink.com/2012/05/20/buy-cd/

Louise studied opera at the Royal College of Music in London and made her Cape Town debut with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at its millennium concert at Kirstenbosch. Albert finished his classical piano studies in Natal and has since become one of the most widely used vocal accompanists and coaches in Cape Town. Alongside this he is a founder member of the CT Tango Ensemble and in 2006 joined forces with Louise to explore their passion for Jazz, Broadway and more, creating their own unique brand of Across the styles productions. This has taken them throughout the country from Concert Halls to Blues Festivals, culminating in their 2010 CD “Night Sessions”

Biz Lounge News Review in Bizcommunity: “Louise Howett (the lady with a voice like an angel) and Albert Combrink (the pianist with magic fingers) make the perfect duo.”

WhatsoninCapeTown Review:
– I thoroughly enjoyed Howlett and Combrink’s move to highlight the nuanced emotion that songs provide in cinema.
– Her range and skill and her easy, pleasant interpretation of the music was aurally opulent.
– Howlett and Combrink soared through jazz from the 1940s and 50s with excellent arrangements and superb skill.
– a programme that continued to show off Howlett’s range and versatility and Combrink’s impressive technique

Louise Howlett

ORIGINAL FRENCH LYRICS
L’amour est un oiseau rebelle
que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
et c’est bien en vain qu’on l’appelle,
s’il lui convient de refuser.
Rien n’y fait, menace ou prière,
l’un parle bien, l’autre se tait:
Et c’est l’autre que je préfère,
Il n’a rien dit mais il me plaît.
L’amour! L’amour! L’amour! L’amour!

Carmen: L’amour est enfant de Bohême,
il n’a jamais, jamais connu de loi;
si tu ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime
si je t’aime, prends garde à toi! (Prends garde à toi!)
Si tu ne m’aimes pas,
Si tu ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime! (Prends garde à toi!)
Mais, si je t’aime,
Si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!

L’oiseau que tu croyais surprendre
battit de l’aile et s’envola …
l’amour est loin, tu peux l’attendre;
tu ne l’attends plus, il est là!
Tout autour de toi, vite, vite,
il vient, s’en va, puis il revient …
tu crois le tenir, il t’évite,
tu crois l’éviter, il te tient.
L’amour! L’amour! L’amour! L’amour!

Sheet Music to Carmen’s Habanera available HERE.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION FOR THE LYRICS
Love is a rebellious bird
that nobody can tame,
and you can call him (although it is) quite in vain,
because it suits him not to come.
Nothing helps, neither threat nor prayer.
One man talks well, the other, silent;
but it’s the other that I prefer.
He says nothing, but he pleases me.
Oh, love! Love! Love! Love!

Carmen: Love is a gypsy’s child,
it has never known the law;
if you love me not, then I love you;
if I love you, you’d best beware! (You’d best beware!)
if you love me not,
if you love me not, then I love you (You’d best beware!)
but if I love you,
if I love you, you’d best beware!

The bird you hoped to catch
beat its wings and flew away …
love stays away, you wait and wait;
when least expected, there it is!
All around you, swift, swift,
it comes, goes, then it returns …
you think you hold it fast, it flees
you think you’re free, it holds you fast.
Oh, love! Love! Love! Love!