Tuesday, November 10, 2026 From 6:30 PM To 7:30 PM Add to Calendar 2026-11-10 18:30:00 2026-11-10 19:30:00 From Saint-Saëns to Britten: The Musical World of Verlaine Discover the poetry of Paul Verlaine through the music of Fauré, Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Britten, and more. French tenor Morgan Manifacier bring Verlaine’s words to life in this intimate recital. The French Library, 53 Marlborough St, Boston, Massachusetts, United States America/New_York
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About Paul Verlaine
Paul Verlaine (1844–1896) was one of the greatest and most influential French poets of the 19th century and a leading figure of the Symbolist movement. Celebrated for the extraordinary musicality, rhythm, and emotional subtlety of his verse, he transformed French poetry and inspired generations of artists and composers.His turbulent life—including his famous and tumultuous relationship with fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud—has become almost as legendary as his work. His major collections include Poèmes saturniens (1866), Romances sans paroles (1874), Sagesse (1880), and La Bonne Chanson (1870).
About the artists
Morgan Manifacier, tenor
Praised as a performer who “gives himself completely to the singing” (Unser Lübeck), French tenor Morgan Manifacierhas built a wide-ranging career in opera, art song, and contemporary music. His operatic roles include Pelléas in Pelléas et Mélisande, Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.
He has performed at the Oxford International Song Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, and Toronto Summer Music Festival, among others. A two-time winner of The American Prize in Voice, he currently serves on the voice faculty at Baylor University.
Corinne Penner, piano
Praised by Fanfare Magazine as a “superb pianist…truly magnificent,” Corinne Penner has appeared in recital at Seiji Ozawa Hall, Museo del Violino, Sibelius Hall, and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.
Listen to excerpts of Morgan Manifacier performing with Corinne Penner here
Upcoming Events
Ciné Club Series: Hugo by Pascal Bonitzer
DISCUSSION WITH Prof. Michelle S. Cheyne
Join us for the opening of our Pascal Bonitzer Retrospective with the Boston premiere of Hugo (Victor comme tout le monde), starring the incomparable Fabrice Luchini.
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William Tell: The Enduring Legacy of a Hero Myth
A Preview Evening with Boston Lyric Opera
Join former Boston Lyric Opera General & Artistic Director Esther Nelson for a fascinating journey through legend, history, and opera, tracing how the story of Tell has been reimagined across centuries, with live musical excerpts from Rossini’s masterpiece.
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Come join us for the new Theater Club at the French Library, a place to read, watch, discuss and recite contemporary and classic French plays with fellow enthusiasts.
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