Clavecin obtempérant (1945), Florent Schmitt’s endlessly fascinating harpsichord suite created for Marcelle de Lacour.

Over a lengthy career spanning more than seven decades, the French composer Florent Schmitt created numerous works that showcased the special qualities of various different instruments — including some that are not so often the “featured celebrities” in scores. As an accomplished keyboard artist, it’s no surprise that the composer’s catalogue of works contains many […]

The intimate Florent Schmitt: Suite en rocaille (1934) and Sonatine en trio (1935).

October 28, 2012 · by Phillip Nones | in Chamber Music, Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Uncategorized | tagged Classical Music, Corradina Mola, De'Ath, Falletta, Faure, Florent Schmitt, French Composers, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Jerome van Wynsberge, Kasparov, Larderet, Liliy Laskine, Lutsyshyn, Magali Goimard, Music, Nones, Pahud, Paul Meyer, Peyer, Pierre Jamet Quintet, Quinteto Tournier, Ravel, Robison, Rudolf Sulzenbacher, Sonatine, Tournier Quintet | 4 Comments

For music-lovers who know Florent Schmitt’s big orchestral works, it might be surprising to learn that the composer also wrote many pieces for solo instruments and chamber ensembles. There is a vast trove of music for solo and duo-piano, and some of these are the beneficiary of fine recordings made recently by pianists like Vincent Larderet, […]

World premiere recording of Florent Schmitt’s Suite for Flute & Orchestra, dedicated to the great Jean-Pierre Rampal (1954).

September 9, 2012 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers | tagged Classical Music, Florent Schmitt, Flute, Flute Music, James Strauss, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Laercio Diniz, Milhaud, Music, Rampal, Schmitt, Villa-Lobos | 3 Comments

Welcome news in that Florent Schmitt’s Suite for Flute & Orchestra, Opus 129, is receiving its world premiere recording by flautist James Strauss, with Laercio Diniz conducting the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra. The Suite was composed in 1954 when Schmitt was 84 years old. It was dedicated to the great French flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal — […]