“Disclaiming all coteries, dogmas, and ready-made religious or organized enthusiasms”: G. Jean-Aubry’s insightful essay on Florent Schmitt and his artistry.

November 1, 2026 · by Phillip Nones | in Composers, French Composers | tagged Berlioz, Edwin Evans, Florent Schmitt, International Society for Contemporary Music, ISCM, Jean-Aubry, Joseph Conrad, Kerob-Shal, Koussevitzky, Schmitt | 1 Comment

The French critic’s perspectives on Florent Schmitt, originally published before World War I, proved prescient in the years to follow. When Florent Schmitt’s Symphonie concertante was premiered in Boston, Massachusetts in November 1932, the composer himself traveled to the United States to be the featured pianist in a work that had been dedicated by him […]

Florent Schmitt’s Mirages: Poignant and Potent Musical Pictures Inspired by Paul Fort and Lord Byron (1920-23)

January 14, 2013 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Piano Music | tagged Alfred Cortot, Alfred Hertz, Andrey Kasparov, Annie d'Arco, Bennett Lerner, Classical Music, Claude Debussy, Defauw, Ernst Levy, Ferroud, Florent Schmitt, Francois-Julien Brun, French Composers, French Impressionism, Impressionism in Music, Jacques Mercier, John Ogdon, Jorge Mester, Koussevitzky, Laurent Wagschal, Lelia Gousseau, Lord Byron, Marie-Catherine Girod, Michel Plasson, Mirages, Nones, Pascal le Corre, Paul Fort, Pauline Gordon, Pierre Dervaux, Tomer Lev, Vincent Larderet, Winston Choi | 5 Comments

One of the highly interesting compositions by Florent Schmitt is Mirages, Op. 70. This work exists in two versions: its original piano form composed in 1920/21, and a later orchestration prepared by the composer in 1923 and premiered in 1924 by Schmitt’s friend, the conductor Serge Koussevitzky. I find Mirages to be a compelling work, even if […]

Symphonie concertante: When Florent Schmitt came to America (1932).

October 18, 2012 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Piano Music, Uncategorized | tagged Alan Ding, Albert Wolff, Bernard Gavoty, Bonnet, Boston Symphony, Classical Music, Daniel-Lesur, David Robertson, Deuteurtre, Florent Schmitt, Francoise Petit, French Composers, Grace May Stutsman, Jean Clergue, Jean Doyen, Jean Martinon, Joseph G. Brennan, Kitahara Toshiyuki, Koussevitzky, League of Composers, Maurice Hinson, Monique Haas, Nones, Peter Donohoe, Rene Dumesnil, Roger Boutry, Sermet, Shin-ichi Numabe, Symphonie Concertante, Tomoki Sakata, Yan-Pascal Tortelier | 3 Comments

All his life, Florent Schmitt was an inveterate traveler … but we think of his globetrotting primarily in connection with Europe, the Mediterranean Region, the Middle East, South Asia and Brazil, rather than North America. And in fact, the composer was to travel to the United States only one time his life – in 1932 […]