Timpani Records announces its newest Florent Schmitt recording project, featuring a half-century of compositions for wind instruments performed by the Initium Ensemble.

The new recording is scheduled for release in fall 2016. Word has just been received from Stéphane Topakian, head of Timpani Records, that his enterprising label will release its latest Florent Schmitt recording later this year. The new release will include six works composed by Schmitt featuring wind instrumentation. The generously filled recording will contain the following pieces, spanning […]

Orchestral conductor Roberto Beltrán-Zavala talks about the music of Florent Schmitt and Rêves (1915).

March 14, 2016 · by Phillip Nones | in Ballet, Classical Music, Composers, French Composers | tagged Arie van Beek, Cervantino Festival, Florent Schmitt, Guanajuato University Orchestra, Hans Leenders, Jorge Mester, Jorge Torres, Jorma Panula, Mark Wigglesworth, OSUG, re:orchestra, Reves, Roberto Beltran-Zavala, Schmitt, Tragedie de Salome, Universidad de Guanajuato, Valery Gergiev | Leave a comment

In February 2016, the first orchestral music of Florent Schmitt ever to be performed in Mexico was presented by the conductor Roberto Beltrán-Zavala. He led the Orchestra of the University of Guanajuato in a performance of the composer’s Rêves, Op. 65 (Dreams), a tone picture composed in 1915 — just over a century ago. It […]

In Memoriam: Florent Schmitt’s tribute to his teacher and mentor Gabriel Fauré (1922/35).

March 6, 2016 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Piano Music | tagged Alexandre Millerand, Andrey Kasparov, Aubert, Buffalo Philharmonic, Charles Koechlin, Enesco, Florent Schmitt, Gabriel Faure, Georges Pretre, In Memoriam, Jean Martinon, JoAnn Falletta, John McLaughlin Williams, Jules Massenet, Lionel Salter, Manuel Rosenthal, Margaret Fingerhut, Michel Fleury, Nick Gianopoulos, Oksana Lutsyshyn, Paul Ladmirault, Paul Paray, Paul Turok, Penelope, Ravel, Ray Luck, Remus Tzincoca, Rene Dumesnil, Revue Musicale, Roger-Ducasse, Schmitt, Sir Neville Marriner, Sydney Dalton, Tony Aubin, Vladimir Valjarevic | 3 Comments

During his time as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, Florent Schmitt had his share of esteemed teachers including Jules Massenet, Théodore Dubois, André Gédalge and Albert Lavignac. But Gabriel Fauré, who along with Massenet were Schmitt’s two instructors in composition, was his favorite teacher — and also arguably the most influential one. Time and again, […]