French pianist Tristan Raës talks about his musical journey with Florent Schmitt, and the pathfinding recording efforts of his father, Alain Raës.

Alain made important first recordings of French piano scores by Florent Schmitt, while Tristan is exploring the composer’s sumptuous early-career mélodies. Recently a multi-country recital tour was announced featuring tenor Cyrille Dubois and pianist Tristan Raës, in which mélodies by the composer Gabriel Fauré and several of his students would be performed. I was pleased […]

Investigating the mystery – and promise – of Florent Schmitt’s “Poèmes des lacs” (Les Barques, Demande, Musique sur l’eau, Soir sur le lac, Tristesse au jardin — 1897-1901)

December 17, 2020 · by Phillip Nones | in French Composers, Vocal Music | tagged Albert Samain, Amis de Maurice Ravel, Aurora Argenti, Charles Koechlin, Cipa Godebski, Colette, Demande, Fabien Gabel, Florent Schmitt, Gauthier-Villars, Helene Luquiens, Jean Forestier, JoAnn Falletta, Laurent Tailhade, Le Chat noir, Les Barques, Louis Laloy, Manuel Cornejo, Marcel Proust, Maurice Ravel, Musique sur l'eau, Poemes de lacs, Robert d'Humieres, Robert de Montesquiou, Robert Ganzo, Rose Feart, Sarah Bernhardt, Soir sur le lac, Sur le lac du Bourget, Tristesse au jardin, Yves Hucher | Leave a comment

Recently, two documents have emerged that point to the existence of a long-forgotten grouping of Florent Schmitt’s mélodies that can stand alongside the song cycles of fellow-French composers Henri Duparc, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Maurice Delage and Louis Aubert. The grouping of Florent Schmitt mélodies carries the umbrella title “Poèmes des lacs,” and some details […]

Florent Schmitt’s early art songs: A trove of treasures awaits rediscovery.

June 29, 2015 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Vocal Music | tagged Albert Samain, Amy Lowell, Camille Mauclair, Camille Saint-Saens, Claire Croiza, Desire Inghelbrecht, Ethel Grow, Florent Schmitt, French Composers, French National Radio Orchestra, Gabrie Faure, Gauthier-Villars, INA, INA Archives, Jean Cras, Musique sur l'eau, ORTF, Paul Verlaine, Philippe Jaroussky, Regine Crespin, Robert de Montesquiou, Schmitt, Symbolist Poets, Symbolist Writers, Theodore Aubanel, Yolanda Marcoulescou | 4 Comments

Recently, the INA archives (French National Radio and Television) has begun offering for download a memorial concert held in honor of Florent Schmitt. The concert, which was broadcast in October 1958 two months following the composer’s death, has never been made available since its initial airing until now. The memorial program featured five works by Schmitt including […]