Fêtes Galantes & Songs Without Words

Fêtes Galantes captures the essence of French comedy and pastoral life through vivid imagery of characters from commedia dell’arte, set against enchanting landscapes. The poems reflect Verlaine's emotional depth, exploring themes of melancholy and romantic longing. In contrast, Songs Without Words delves into the complexities of love, focusing on relationships with a childhood cousin, a young wife, and fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud, all set against the backdrop of the Ardennes and urban locales. Notably, it features the renowned poem "Il pleure dans mon coeur..."