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, Florent Schmitt, Gabriel Pierne, Guy Ropartz, Henriette Puig-Roget, Henry Prunieres, IRCAM, Jawher Matmati, Jean Morel, Joaquin Rodrigo, Julian Klein, La Revue Musicale, Manuel de Falla, Messiaen, Micheline Moris-Thirion, Paul Dukas, Pauline Gordon, Pieter-Jelle de Boer, Ray Luck, Revue Musicale, Richard Whitehouse, Societe nationale de musique, Stele pour le Tombeau de Paul Dukas, Tony Aubin | 2 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 […]

Israeli pianist and pedagogue Tomer Lev talks about planning and producing the new NAXOS recording of the Tombeau de Claude Debussy (1920) complete anthology.

January 23, 2021 · by Phillip Nones | in Chamber Music, Classical Music, Instrumental Music, Piano Music | tagged Aryeh Levanon, Bartok, Buchman-Mehta School, Debussy, Dukas, Evelyn Lear, Florent Schmitt, Goossens, Henry Prunieres, La Revue Musicale, Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy, Malipiero, Manuel de Falla, MultiPiano, NAXOS, Ravel, Roussel, Satie, Stravinsky, Tomer Lev, Zubin Mehta | Leave a comment

“What stands out in Schmitt’s work is the hypnotic-impressionist atmosphere, verging on the surreal. Both the atmospherics and the piano writing … hint very strongly at Debussy’s own aesthetic world. It creates a kind of spiritual dialogue that Schmitt conducts with his late older colleague.” — Tomer Lev, pianist and pedagogue In late 2020, NAXOS […]

Organist and music researcher Guillaume Le Dréau talks about French composer Florent Schmitt’s consequential work as a Parisian music critic (1912-1939).

January 20, 2017 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Organ Music | tagged Alain Louvier, Charles Munch, Courrier Musical, David Eccott, Florent Schmitt, France Musicale, French Composers, French Music, Guillaume le Dreau, La Revue de France, La Revue Musicale, Le Temps, Marche Nuptiale, Music Criticism, Nicolas Slonimsky, Norman Demuth, Paris Conservatoire, Remy Campos, Rennes Cathedral, Revue Musicale, Schmitt, Virgil Thomson | 1 Comment

Guillaume Le Dréau is one of the most multi-faceted musicians I know. A keyboard artist, he is currently the organist at Rennes Cathedral in France — but this position represents only one aspect of his many musical activities. Not only does he play the organ and piano, he is a composer, an arranger, a teacher and a researcher. […]