This wordless duet is performed to perfection by two teenagers, Jean-Baptiste Maunier and Clemence, who wring every last ounce of beauty from their young voices.
Born in 1990, Jean-Baptiste now lives in Lyon with his parents and siblings. He discovered his gift for singing while attending a Catholic secondary school, and was later spotted and cast in Les Choristes (The Chorus), which made him a familiar face. His duet with Clemence is a match made in heaven — the two have performed together not only in France but also in Canada, Japan and elsewhere around the world. “Concerto pour deux voix” — the original piece, “Concerto for one voice”, was written by the composer Saint-Preux in 1969 while he was travelling through Poland. Now this single has been reworked into a strikingly fresh duet! And the girl partnering with Jean-Baptiste Maunier is none other than the composer’s own daughter, Clemence Saint-Preux. This song — or rather, this piece, since it has no lyrics at all — is nothing but two exquisite young voices drifting and weaving against an orchestral backdrop. It’s arguably the best possible way to showcase the purest, most heavenly singing: any adornment of words would only get in the way.