“White-haired, bearded and thoroughly charming”: American contralto Rita Sebastian’s remembrances of performing with Florent Schmitt at Town Hall in New York City (1932).

March 1, 2022 · by Phillip Nones | in Chamber Music, Composers, Vocal Music | tagged Ada Soder-Hueck, Alfred Wallenstein, Alfred-Alphonse Bottiau, Arnold Schoenberg, Bernard Laberge, Claire Ries, Countess Mercati, Florent Schmitt, Garcia School, Glimmerglass Festival, JoAnn Falletta, John Erskine, Kerob-Shal, League of Composers, Mabel Boll, Marie Manice Edgar, Olin Downes, Paul Claudel, Rita Sebastian Latham, Serge Koussevistzky, Temple Emmanu-El, Theodore Cella, Tristesse au jardin, Walter Damrosch | 1 Comment

One of the serendipitous aspects of music history is coming across rare and precious documents that have remained hidden for decades. Such an occurrence happened this past summer when JoAnn Falletta, music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, received a package in the mail containing a collection of documents pertaining to a recital given by […]

Pianist Edward Rushton talks about exploring Florent Schmitt’s repertoire of vocal music, and preparing it for performance and recording.

June 1, 2020 · by Phillip Nones | in Choral Music, Vocal Music | tagged Andreas Werner, Annina Haug, Chansons a quatre voix, Claire Croiza, Edward Rushton, Fabienne Romer, Florent Schmitt, Harry White, Kerob-Shal, Nino Aurelio Gmunder, Paul Verlaine, Quatre poemes de Ronsard, Rene Chalupt, Rene Perler, Resonus Classics, Simon Wallfisch, Sybille Diethelm, Trois chants, Yolanda Marcoulescou | Leave a comment

“It’s as if someone said to you: ‘Throw yourself from a fourth floor window — and mind you, fall gracefully.’” — Claire Croiza, French soprano Considering that 2020 marks the 150th birthday anniversary of French composer Florent Schmitt, who lived from 1870 to 1958, it isn’t surprising that the milestone would be marked by the […]

In Florent Schmitt’s 150th birthday anniversary year, a new recording featuring the composer’s vocal music is being prepared.

January 3, 2020 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music | tagged Andreas Werner, Annina Haug, Chansons a quatre voix, Edward Rushton, Fabienne Romer, Florent Schmitt, Kerob-Shal, Nino Aurelio Gmunder, Quatre poemes de Ronsard, Rene Perler, Resonus Classics, Sybille Diethelm, Trois chants | Leave a comment

Funding from Florent Schmitt aficionados around the world is being sought to help underwrite the project. As we embark on the 150th birthday anniversary year of Florent Schmitt, who was born in 1870, it is particularly gratifying to discover that this milestone is being recognized in increased programming of Schmitt’s music in Europe, North America, […]