Proust and Godard

by Rebecca Valette

A week ago my flute teacher gave me a waltz by Godard to study this fall.

Here is Galway playing it:

 

 

I had never heard of Benjamin Godard (1849-1895) before, I must admit.

And then two days later I was reading Proust (Sodome et Gomorrhe), where the Narrator is upset with the stand-in elevator person who talks too much and remarks...

"... je lui dis (comme à un ténor qui vous excède avec Benjamin Godard: Chantez-moi de préférence du Debussy) ..."


Clearly Proust was not a fan of the "virtuosity" of the Godard pieces... and preferred Debussy.

Still, what a surprise to encounter Godard in my reading...