The French Music Exploration thread

[Mandryka]

And her quartet cycle too

https://soundcloud.com/vilniusstringsquartet/sets/fran-oise-choveaux-quintette

[Papy Oli]

*bumpity bump*

Various French CD's I have enjoyed in the last few months:

Berlioz





Honegger



4

Marais



Delalande

[Florestan]

Very recently I listened to this:



It was my first exposure to the whole thing and I have to say I was underwhelmed. It has its moments (all of them purely orchestral, the vocal parts left me completely cold) but the overall impression is that of a disjointed and confusing work. Not my cup of tea, honestly.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I always like these recordings of Massenet.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I love Jacques Duphly.

[Papy Oli]

I always like these recordings of Massenet.

I have had the 2 Naxos volumes of Suites Orchestrales on a low priority wish list for quite a while. I enjoyed those, Manabu.

[Mirror Image]

Very recently I listened to this:



It was my first exposure to the whole thing and I have to say I was underwhelmed. It has its moments (all of them purely orchestral, the vocal parts left me completely cold) but the overall impression is that of a disjointed and confusing work. Not my cup of tea, honestly.

I love this piece, but I love almost all of Berlioz's music anyway. One of my favorite composers.

[Papy Oli]

Very recently I listened to this:



It was my first exposure to the whole thing and I have to say I was underwhelmed. It has its moments (all of them purely orchestral, the vocal parts left me completely cold) but the overall impression is that of a disjointed and confusing work. Not my cup of tea, honestly.

Not a work I have tried yet, Andrei. I only briefly tried Les Troyens (opera-wise) so far by Berlioz.

[Florestan]

Massenet is among my favorite French composers, both opera/vocal and orchestral music.

Besides the abovementioned recordings, these are real gems:

[Papy Oli]

I love Jacques Duphly.

I tried Duphly before with this release but that didn't do it for me over time. Maybe I should re-assess with the ones you mention.

 

[Papy Oli]

Massenet is among my favorite French composers, both opera/vocal and orchestral music.

Besides the abovementioned recordings, these are real gems:

I'll have to check those, thank you.

[Florestan]

Not a work I have tried yet, Andrei. I only briefly tried Les Troyens (opera-wise) so far by Berlioz.

Well, the problem with R & J is that it's not an opera, it's not a symphony, it's not a cantata --- and it's not even a mix of these three genres. It's as I said, a disjointed and confusing work, and I dare say it is the product of a disjointed and confused mind/soul. 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Also I love Jacques Ibert! Wonderful composer!



 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I tried Duphly before with this release but that didn't do it for me over time. Maybe I should re-assess with the ones you mention.

Some of his works sound very modern and jazzy. Have a nice weekend, Olivier.

[Papy Oli]

Well, the problem with R & J is that it's not an opera, it's not a symphony, it's not a cantata --- and it's not even a mix of these three genres. It's as I said, a disjointed and confusing work, and I dare say it is the product of a disjointed and confused mind/soul. 

Kick a work while it's down, why don't you...  I am intrigued now 

[Papy Oli]

Some of his works sound very modern and jazzy. Have a nice weekend, Olivier.

I have found the Belder on Idagio, not the other. I have bookmarked Rousset as well instead.

Have a good one!

[Florestan]

Jean Françaix has been a very enjoyable discovery for me last year. I loved everything I heard, form ballets to chamber music to instrumental concertos. Joyful, witty, cheerful and uplifting music tinged with just the right amount of melancholia and nostalgy --- right up my alley.

[Florestan]

Kick a work while it's down, why don't you... 

Well, I've been in a very anti-Romantic (notice the cap R, as opposed to small r romantic) mood lately... 

I am intrigued now 

By all means, I urge you to listen to it and form your own opinion of it. You might even love it at first sight, in which case more power to you!   

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I have found the Belder on Idagio, not the other. I have bookmarked Rousset as well instead.

Have a good one!

Aya Hamada is a fine, Juilliard graduate harpsichordist. She is my FB friend, and a friend of Rousset.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nT9E9_2rbKIenE3bzgUJxzc9IshZFDuIk

[Madiel]

Oh no, don't bump. If Olivier starts methodically going through French composers I'll have to follow along again, and I'm not sure I have the time.