Stèle pour le tombeau de Paul Dukas, Florent Schmitt’s heartfelt tribute to his fellow composer, gets a first-ever recording of its orchestral version (1936/38).

Of the composers of France’s “Golden Age” covering the seven-decade period of music beginning in the 1880s, among the most important and influential were five composers born during the 1860s and 1870s – in order of birth Claude Debussy, Paul Dukas, Albert Roussel, Florent Schmitt and Maurice Ravel. Schmitt was the longest-lived of the five, […]

Chaîne brisée (1936-37): Florent Schmitt’s posthumous tribute to his friend and fellow-composer Paul Dukas.

June 2, 2021 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, French Composers, Piano Music | tagged Alain Raes, Annie d'Arco, Anthony Girard, Arthur Hoeree, Barcarolle des sept vierges, Branle de sortie, Chaine brisee, Charles Munch, Clemens Gadenstaetter, Clement Canonne, Elsa Barraine, Emile Vuillermoz, Florent Schmitt, Gabriel Pierne, Guy Ropartz, Henri de Curzon, Henriette Puig-Roget, Henry Prunieres, IRCAM, Jawher Matmati, Jean Morel, Jean Prudhomme, Joaquin Rodrigo, Julian Klein, La Revue Musicale, Louis Aubert, Manuel de Falla, Messiaen, Micheline Moris-Thirion, Paul Dambly, Paul Dukas, Pauline Gordon, Pieter-Jelle de Boer, Ray Luck, Revue Musicale, Richard Whitehouse, Roger Venteuil, Societe nationale de musique, Stele pour le Tombeau de Paul Dukas, Tony Aubin, Yan-Pascal Tortelier | 6 Comments

Living and working as he did throughout the entirety of France’s “Golden Age” of classical music, Florent Schmitt was well-acquainted with all of the significant composers of the day in Paris. Among the most famous of them — Achille-Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Albert Roussel and Paul Dukas — the latter three were particularly close friends […]

Conductors JoAnn Falletta and Jorge Mester Talk About the Music of Florent Schmitt

January 5, 2013 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Uncategorized | tagged Antoine et Cleopatre, Buffalo Philharmonic, Classical Music, Composer, Conductors Guild, Florent Schmitt, French Composers, Jean Morel, JoAnn Falletta, Jorge Mester, Juilliard, Louisville Orchestra, Salome, Virginia Symphony | 1 Comment

Last month, I caught up with music directors JoAnn Falletta and Jorge Mester while observing the fine students at the Conductor Training Workshop in Virginia Beach, VA. Maestra Falletta and Maestro Mester are among the eminent conducting faculty who mentor members of the Conductors Guild in workshops held in various cities in North America and overseas. Both conductors are great proponents […]