From Saint-Saëns to Britten: The Musical World of Verlaine

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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Join us for a special concert celebrating Paul Verlaine and the extraordinary influence of his poetry on generations of composers.

French tenor Morgan Manifacier and pianist Corinne Penner bring The Musical World of Verlaine to Boston as part of an international tour marking the 130th anniversary of the poet’s death.

Renowned for the lyricism and musicality of his verse, Verlaine inspired some of the greatest composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Through voice and piano, this intimate recital explores the remarkable dialogue between his poetry and music, with settings by Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Hahn, Poldowski, Tosti, and Britten.

The program culminates with Gabriel Fauré’s La Bonne Chanson, Op. 61, one of the great masterpieces of French art song. Based on nine poems from Verlaine’s collection of the same name, the cycle traces an intimate journey through love, longing, and hope, bringing together the poet’s lyrical verse and Fauré’s expressive musical language.

The evening will conclude with a wine reception and light refreshments.

Non-members

$32

French Library members

$25

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.

Together with Morgan Manifacier, she received the John Kerr Award Duo Prize for their recital program at London’s Lauderdale House. She has also received fellowships and awards from the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, and Franz-Schubert-Institut, and currently serves on the faculty at Baylor University’s School of Music.

Listen to excerpts of Morgan Manifacier performing with Corinne Penner here

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