The week-end guest of Serge Cheze in Estang
Glorious to discover this small village named Estang, between Bordeaux and Toulouse, as a guest of record dealer Serge Cheze with his 50 years of experience and expertise, ostensibly for a private audition to listen to several never-released 78-speed titles by Lucy Arbell (Massenet’s preferred Dulcinée in ‘Don Quichotte’). It had been assumed that her voice was never recorded! I was with Hervé Oléon, a specialist on Massenet and Arbell. During three days we sampled Southwest France specialties such as ‘la garbure’ (a hearty and fragrant soup with cabbage, garlic and duck), locally produced foie gras, confit de canard, and marvelous rich red and crisp white wines, sumptuous clafouti with chocolate, apples and pears, and of course Armagnac, this one aged from 1964! Hours were spent listening to vocal music on rare and exceptional 78s, and I saw with my own eyes the 20,000 records that are stocked and for sale, most in mint condition. Hint: with so many of the great record collectors who have now passed on, Serge welcomes inquiries and can furnish a list of available titles. He ships worldwide of course, but can also accommodate visitors to view and listen onsite! Message me for info.