Conseil tenu par les rats (The Rats’ Council): Florent Schmitt’s humorous take on Jean de la Fontaine’s wry fable (1948-50).

In 1953, Florent Schmitt composed Fables sans morales, settings of four fables taken from Jean de la Fontaine’s writings which the composer scored for a cappella mixed chorus. Interestingly, several years earlier Schmitt had already produced another choral work based a Fontaine fable, titled Conseil tenu par les rats, Op. 123 (The Rats’ Council) – […]

Giving vibrant voice to powerful poetry: Florent Schmitt’s Trois Chants (1940-43).

French composers of the period really knew how to write vocal music.  Composers like Ravel, Debussy and Florent Schmitt were taught how to write for the human voice. — Karina Gauvin, Canadian Soprano How can one composer be so gifted at so much? — JoAnn Falletta, American Orchestra Conductor When one looks at the extensive […]