The Invalides, the music softens hearts – Le Figaro

NATIONAL TRIBUTE – Vocal, instrumental mind Bataclan blew that morning of November 27 at the Invalides, during the homage of the Nation to the 130 victims of the terrorist attack that bloodied the mourning Paris and France

The music. The best response against terrorists who murder those who listen and who are. Music has accompanied the ceremony national tribute to the 130 victims of the attack of the Islamists at the Bataclan and the cafes and restaurants of Paris, 13 November. All the media have chosen this phrase said fervently by François Hollande in his speech that he wanted to write himself, and not use a pen as it is customary to do so: “We will increase the songs, concerts, we will continue to go to the stadium, “insisted the head of state. His words sound like a high point, because music is punctuated throughout the ceremony.

Of course, the Marseillaise was first sounded, carried by the orchestra of the Republican Guard, soon after President of the Republic took place in the courtyard of the Invalides, where he sat alone in front of the families, to mark its responsibility not only vis-à-vis them but to the whole nation.

But soon after, When you have that Love tore the silence, worn by three safe but heartfelt voice, Yael Naim, Nolwen Leroy and Camellia Jordana. Some played guitar as it relies on a crutch. The image on TV evoked the group of Eagles of Death Metal, which we will always remember that he was showing that fatal evening at the Bataclan. But American rockers have not they announced that they wanted to put their music out she killed at the hands of these “hordes of assassins” acting “on behalf of a cause and mad god betrayed “, in the words of François Hollande.

They have not slipped. Vibrant, poignant singing Brel like Celine Dion sang The Hymn to Love Piaf last week for the victims, the American Music Awards. The diva had been thanked by applause and tears. But the Invalides, after delivery, no sound is output

And then. “To whom, how, when and why? Against who? How? Against what? “, Natalie Dessay, very marked, castling voice, unusually feverish but gradually taking insurance of those, those who are standing, sang Perlimpinpin , this powerful song Barbara, accompanied on piano by Alexandre Tharaud. Just before the rosary was seeded names and ages of the 130 victims, who were on average 35 years. The singer was poignant. A great silence descended on his performance.

Francois Hollande was speaking. But he made the cello after a few notes, a Bach suite the serious tones of circumstance. The music, the head of state has spoken from the beginning of his speech, noting that among those killed, “many had made music their profession” and that this harmony [was] unbearable to terrorists. ” It was at that time that he invited to “increase the songs, the concerts”. He appealed to the youth, that which is already known as “the generation Bataclan”. Again, the national anthem sounded, but with the second verse, that almost nobody knows humming today. We would have liked, at that time, too, hear the song of the Partisans, this “song of complicity”, in the words of André Malraux, whose ashes are at the Invalides.

After one hour ceremony, before the court of honor empties, this unifying moment were was cemented by Nabucco, the chorus of oppressed slaves, by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by the orchestra of the Republican Guard. A column of harmony not that France is divided. For this musical and political work calls for the unity, in unison.