New Cécile McLorin Salvant

Cécile McLorin Salvant wil release her next Nonsesuch Records album “Mélusine” on March 24th. It’s a mixture of five original songs and nine pieces sung in French, Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyòl. Some of the songs date back to the 12th century. “Mélusine” tells the story of a woman who turns into a half-snake each Saturday after a curse by her mother when she was still a child. She agrees to marry Raymondin on the condition that he never see her on Saturdays. He agrees but is later convinced by his brother to break his promise, piercing his wife’s door with a sword and finding her naked in the bath, half snake, half woman. When she catches him spying on her, she turns into a dragon and flies away, only to reappear every time one of her descendants is on their deathbed. The album follows her critically-acclaimed “Ghost Song“.

A first track off the album, “D’un Feu Secret”, written by Michel Lambert in 1660, is already out. Sullivan Fortner can be heard on synths and the animated video is by Amanda Bonaiuto. Vinyl will follow on May 19th!