French Consul General Jean-Yves Berthault and Hasan Ali Khan, Managing Director LU Biscuits who has been awarded the prestigious French medal "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite" for promoting cultural and economic relations between France and Pakistan organised a grand opera gala at the Consulate General of France to raise much needed funds for Al-Mehrab Tibbi Imdad's cancer hospital for poor patients.
Marion Baglan, the young and stunningly beautiful French soprano coloratura gave a virtuoso performance at the charity gala. The gifted rising star of the French opera scene undaunted by the absence of proper acoustics and live music, which give an elan and buoyancy to the renditions performed with aplomb and grace under the glittering mauve marquee. With her inimitable style and powerful crystal clear voice she mesmerised Karachi's opera connoisseurs comprising diplomats, expatriates, politicians, corporate executives and socialites of the metropolis who showed up in support of the noble cause. The amazing range, depth and modulation of her mellifluous silky voice created a tacit rapport with the discerning audience. With poise and panache she serenaded with effortless ease a string of selected classical and modern arias and songs from her vast repertoire.
The highlights of the spellbinding recital were her powerful renditions of "Ah! Je veux vivre dans le rêve" (Gounod), "I feel pretty" (Bernstein), "Oh! Quante volte" (Bellini), "Glitter and be gay" (Bernstein), "Les chemins de l'amour" (Poulenc) etc. Karachi's glitterati gave her a hugely deserved standing ovation amidst chants of encores. Visibly moved by the enthusiastic response from the appreciative opera lovers the charismatic diva bowed gracefully to acknowledge the thunderous round of interminable applause.
Marion Baglan the incomparable exponent of the sublime vocal art graduated in musicology from the National Conservatory of Tours in 1999. She won the coveted "Prix de Musique de Chambre" in 2000. Among the wide range of her dazzling acts figure prominently her recital at the Château de Versailles in 2004.
The bold initiative taken by the French Consul General and the magnanimous Hasan Ali Khan who bore all the expenses of the opera gala yielded considerable funds, which will give an impetus to the construction of the hospital. Al-Mehrab Tibbi Imdad has already acquired a piece of land in the centrally located and more easily accessible locality of Sindhi Muslim Housing Society. Currently, the trust managed by dedicated, selfless luminaries like Liaquat Merchant is providing free nursing and medical care to terminally ill cancer patients in rented premises situated in KDA scheme I.-PR