LDV71

20 OFFENBACH From a formal point of view, how are the duos constructed? Xavier Phillips: It’s a very classical tripartite design: a moderate or mildly fast movement, a slowmovement and a very hectic finale. Offenbach remains simple, which doesn’t exclude genuine musical depth; that’s very noticeable in the middle movements, which are often extremely poignant. He sings in a natural way and leaves a lot up to the performers to decide. Many sections are repeated and you have to ‘dress’ them up’; I really like that. You have to choose from a very wide range of possibilities. The stylishness of Offenbach’smusic derives fromthe collaboration, the intimacy he establishes with his performers, the confidence he has in them.