On Thursday, June 30, we were at the Philharmonie de Paris for the kick-off of the Days Off festival (June 30 to July 10), with an exceptional concert by Benjamin Clementine, winner of the 2015 Mercury Prize, accompanied by The Heritage Orchestra.
It is in an almost solemn atmosphere that Benjamin Clementine enters the scene, choosing Winston Churchill's boy, as the opening of this captivating concert. His drummer joined him 5 minutes later, and gradually settled in the time and space of the great hall of the new Philharmonie.
The two instruments (piano and drums) complement each other, intertwine and nuance each other in this new experience with The Heritage Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley. This performance, attempted for the first time in Amsterdam, is renewed here in a new setting, with certainly a smaller orchestra (25 musicians instead of 95 in Amsterdam), but a meeting still as sumptuous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RJMhYtYKMQ
"London, London, London, is all in you."
Now comes the time to play London, and in view of the geopolitical news, the lyrics "London, London, London, is all in you. Why are you denying the truth ?" did not fail to resonate with a slight bitterness, accompanied by a smile in the corner of the spectators.
The concert continues between quivering, moaning, singing of angels, and other wonders. Benjamin Clementine varies the pleasures and techniques to offer us an extraordinary performance with "Adios", and take us into various universes, of which he is the unique and absolute master. A kind of reincarnated Nina Simone, but with a special stage presence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DU6lDPs-AQ
At the first notes of Condolence, the audience gets carried away in a thunderous applause. Benjamin continues with a beautiful interpretation of Cornerstone, followed by Nemesis. The emotion rises until silence settles again, and "Benjamin you're awesome" shoots from the audience, to which he responds with a mocking smile and a "I don't care!" perfect.
He takes advantage of this somewhat light truce to make a transition, recalling that times are hard now, and that he wishes us all good luck, in the face of the unexpected, in the face of the horrors of the contemporary world. A good chance that we all need.
Protect your child, who knows what might happen tomorrow.
The concert ends with I Won't complain, between lyricism and hope, between charisma and rebellion, leaving us hungry. One thing is certain, it is that we hope for new collaborations of this order, and why not, an album orchestral version.
