Dutilleux's Dark Dominion

[Mirror Image]

Generally, it is better to place more money on a good CD than less on box sets that are usually so uneven in quality.

Perhaps, but when I started seriously collecting about 3 years ago, many of the box sets I bought were cheaper than single releases. I wouldn't say, for example, a set like Jean Martinon's Debussy/Ravel was "weak" in quality. Martinon shined in these two composers. Also, box sets seem to go out-of-print quickly and now I own many box sets that are worth a lot of money. I own a ton of single recordings as well. There are a lot of single releases that are only available in that format.

Anyway, I'm glad I bought a lot of box sets and bought them when I did.

[lescamil]

Changing the subject a bit, do you think we can expect any more chamber music from Dutilleux before he decides to leave our world? I personally would love to see a chamber work for some sort of mixed chamber ensemble with piano (that way I could play it someday, heh). Another string quartet would be nice, too. I would be glad to see anything in that mold. I love his orchestral music, but even he admitted that he hasn't focused enough on chamber music.

[Joaquimhock]

Changing the subject a bit, do you think we can expect any more chamber music from Dutilleux before he decides to leave our world? I personally would love to see a chamber work for some sort of mixed chamber ensemble with piano (that way I could play it someday, heh). Another string quartet would be nice, too. I would be glad to see anything in that mold. I love his orchestral music, but even he admitted that he hasn't focused enough on chamber music.

A few months ago bassoonist Pascal Gallois premiered a few melodies by Dutilleux in a arrangement which was not made by the composer but which was clearly approved by him.

[Guido]

For many years now and in many interviews Dutilleux has repeated he is working on a second string quartet. He also says he is not done yet with the human voice (by which I presume he means the human females; and he is still intoxicated with Renee Fleming's voice, which inspired him to Le Temps l'Horloge

A full studio recording with Fleming has just been put down. It will be released along with Ravel's Sheherezade and Messiaens Poemes pour Mi. Presumably it'll be out next year. Where did he say he was still intoxicated with Fleming's voice?

[Guido]

Did anyone catch the Cello Concerto at the Prom Yesterday?

[not edward]

A full studio recording with Fleming has just been put down. It will be released along with Ravel's Sheherezade and Messiaens Poemes pour Mi. Presumably it'll be out next year. Where did he say he was still intoxicated with Fleming's voice?

That's a bit of a silly programming decision; surely they could have put Correspondances (his other soprano and orchestra song cycle) on it as well. Leaving it out makes the disc a lot less appealing IMO.

[lescamil]

I have a broadcast recording of Correspondances with Claron McFadden (a rather overlooked soprano) which is really great. It's something that I don't think I'd like to hear with Fleming, actually. It's a very beautiful work, but just something that I don't think Fleming would sound great in.

[Joaquimhock]

That's a bit of a silly programming decision; surely they could have put Correspondances (his other soprano and orchestra song cycle) on it as well. Leaving it out makes the disc a lot less appealing IMO.

Correspondances has been written for Dawn Upshaw. She planned to record it, but the recording was canceled when she felt ill a few years ago. Dutilleux said in an interview on French radio about 2 years ago that he hoped Dawn Upshaw would soon be able to record it because it was really a work made for her...

[Guido]

Correspondances has been written for Dawn Upshaw. She planned to record it, but the recording was canceled when she felt ill a few years ago. Dutilleux said in an interview on French radio about 2 years ago that he hoped Dawn Upshaw would soon be able to record it because it was really a work made for her...

Yes lets hope! Fleming is not at her most relaxed in the already released live recording of the piece, but hopefully the studio will bring security and more beauty of tone. I have to sayI am most looking forward to the Ravel... The Messiaen I'm not sure is completely right for her either, but we'll see. She definitely loves all three pieces a lot. And yes Gilbert is the conductor.

[Guido]

One of my strongest concert-going experiences involved Renee Fleming during the Paris premiere of Le Temps l'Horloge. Ozawa preceeded her toward the center stage, with his customary briskness and dynamism. You could sense Fleming's much slower pace was due to nervousness. Only reluctantly did she turn toward the public once she reached her alloted spot. And once fully faced with the public, she froze: the expression on her face reminded me of Saddam Hussein confronted with the gallows. As soon as Ozawa & the Orchestra played that first chord, she relaxed, however; and with her own first note, she regained full possession of herself - and of the public, which she guided through the music with her hands and controlled with her eyes. A consumate professional!

Nice story. Just listened again, and it's a nicer piece than I remembered, and she sings it well. The signs of age in the voice sadden me (EDIT: much less bad than I thought, I was just listening in a loud place - she's sounding remkarkably fresh actually), but there's definitely still a floating beauty. It's not very gratefully written for the voice it has to be said... What do people make of it? He's not naturally a writer for the voice it seems. It seems like a minor piece to me in terms of achivement, but it's certainly a charmer, and as always with Dutilleux, the orchestration and ideas are always exquisite, even if it's not quite at the breath taking level of inspiration of say the cello concerto or the string quartet.

[bhodges]

The New York Philharmonic just awarded its inaugural Marie-Josée Kravis Prize for New Music to Henri Dutilleux. Complete press release here.

--Bruce

[not edward]

Good to see one hole in the Dutilleux discography being filled up. As well as Correspondances, it'd be nice to get a recording of the newest version of Les Citations, given that it's now a triptyque.

I was recently reminded of Gérard Grisey's description of Dutilleux as a "fake traditionalist". It seems to me a very good term for music that seems comparatively conservative on the surface, but less so as one listens deeper (the later Lutoslawski and Bacewicz, to me, are also excellent examples of this).

[Joaquimhock]

It's a shame Correspondances has not yet been recorded, though: are you worthy of the dedication, Sir Simon?

I've heard that if Correspondance has not  been recorded yet it's because of Dawn Upshaw's health problems.

[North Star]

I have also heard that she does not like Correspondances & therefore does not care to perform it. Which is fine, except as part of their commission agreement with Dutilleux Upshaw, Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic have exclusive rights to a first recording of the piece. If this is the case (what we hear is seldom worth much), perhaps they ought to waive that right.

Indeed, it would be very foolish if the piece wasn't recorded just because Upshaw doesn't like it.

That Fleming disc looks interesting.

[lescamil]

I have uploaded a live recording of Correspondances here, since I see many of you so anxious to hear it. Here is to hoping it gets recorded. Claron McFadden is an excellent soprano that would do it well in a commercial recording.

Info from the concert it is taken from:

Ravel - Valses noble et sentimentales   18’
Dutilleux - Tout un monde lointain   28’
Dutilleux - Correspondances   18’
Debussy - La Mer   26’

Gautier Capuçon, cello
Claron McFadden, soprano
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Jac van Steen, conductor

Discovering Dutilleux 2008
Friday 15 February 2008, St. David’s Hall, Cardiff

http://www.mediafire.com/?i5neicv8u6a3j3p

[Mirror Image]

New Dutilleux soon .. Correspondances, for soprano and orchestra (2003)

[asin]B00AEMAJ50[/asin]

Yes! Love me some Dutilleux. Thanks for the sharing this link, James.

Edit: Also on this new recording is Tout un monde lointain and Shadows of Time. I hope Salonen records ALL of the orchestral works.

[lescamil]

I couldn't be happier to hear Barbara Hannigan do that work. The live recording I have of it is swell, but Hannigan is without a doubt one of the best sopranos for modern music. Karttunen should be amazing with Tout un monde lointain also.

[Mirror Image]

I take it most here are aware of this new 5-disc box .. posting it just in case.

[asin]B008BT1060[/asin]

Kudos for mentioning this set, James. I completely forgot about it. Just bought it.

[froghawk]

I have uploaded a live recording of Correspondances here, since I see many of you so anxious to hear it. Here is to hoping it gets recorded. Claron McFadden is an excellent soprano that would do it well in a commercial recording.

Info from the concert it is taken from:

Ravel - Valses noble et sentimentales   18'
Dutilleux - Tout un monde lointain   28'
Dutilleux - Correspondances   18'
Debussy - La Mer   26'

Gautier Capuçon, cello
Claron McFadden, soprano
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Jac van Steen, conductor

Discovering Dutilleux 2008
Friday 15 February 2008, St. David's Hall, Cardiff

http://www.mediafire.com/?i5neicv8u6a3j3p

Thanks!  You wouldn't happen to have a link to full recordings of both concerts in this series, would you?

[lescamil]

What is the other concert in the series? I may be able to track one down.