Votre Toast, Chanson du Toréador

Happy new year!
THis is a musical Toast from me.

I kind of pondered to put Brindisi from La Traviata, but I just couldn't ignore this clip.
(I have been watching this clip about 20 times a day... )
And i just can't think of any other baritone does this french aria better than ... well French singer, ruggedly handsome Mr Tezier. )

The thing is that the fact, Carmen is sung in French therefore, its crucial for me phonetical French pronunciation of "...Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant..." part MUST be right. Well, particulary, this line makes all the difference because the music introduces the new story within the song from here. It simply seems that none of the well known recordings or performance done by non-French baritone can get this part right.

I have probably compared close to 20 recordings, but all were done by non-French singers. Italian, Spanish, Russian, American(errr), Chinese... They just can't nail this part right. Not only the pronunciation, but also the execution of this particular phrase, which totally changes the militaristic minor scale march of first verse to mojor melody with *dreamly* singing quality as the libretto says.
Therefore, Mr. Tezier wins hands down on this one.


Toreador, en garde! Toreador, Toreador!
Et songe bien, oui, songe en combattant
Qu'un oeil noir te regarde
Et que l'amour t'attend,
Et que l'amour t'attend,
Toreador, L'amour t'attend!