
l'An mil was composed in 1897. It is a big work (ca 35 mins.), a symphonic poem with large chorus and (a brief) baritone solo in part 2.
Very detailed program:
Miserere mei - the people's fear for the year 1000. Will Satan appear?
Fête des fous et de l'âne - a parody / blasphemy of a religious service. "...those who took the threats of the Apocalyps as purely symbolic, celebrated the Feast of fools and the ass..."
Te Deum laudamus...:the reassured crowds kneel in prayer. The Te Deum bursts forth in the surprise of the unhoped -for dawn.
Very nice - the first and last movements are very lyrical, Franckiste, aiming for the grandiose. The second movement is mostly fast, almost good humoured - made me even think of Honegger's Jeanne d'Arc ( the proces scene).
This could appeal, I guess, to those who love Franck, ofcourse, Gounod, Massenet,or even Debussy's Sébastien . Elgar?
Very rare, unusual & interesting:
http://www.atelierlyriquedetourcoing.fr/17_18/spect1718/paradisperdu.html24/11 and 26/11/17
Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing: a recreation of Théodore Dubois' (1837-1924) oratorio "Paradis perdu", after Milton.
Dans l’instrumentation originale d’après le manuscrit autographe de Théodore Dubois
Drame-oratorio en quatre parties créé en 1878
Livret d’Edouard Blau d’après le poème de John Milton
Direction musicale, Jean Claude Malgoire
Conception visuelle et scénographie, Jacky Lautem
Ève - Magali Simard-Galdès, soprano
Adam - Antonio Figueroa, ténor
Satan - Marc Boucher, baryton
L’Archange - Mireille Lebel, mezzo-soprano
Uriel, le fils - Denis Mignien, ténor
Molock - Philippe Favette
Belial - Kamil Ben Hsain Lachiri
Choeur de chambre de Namur
Préparation du choeur, Thibaut Lienaerts
La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy