Massenet's "Méditation" from the opera Thaïs was an immediate triumph and remains popular in violin recitals, despite the opera itself taking longer to gain recognition.
Composer Biography
Gabriel Fauré composed "Après un rêve" when Marianne Viardot broke off their engagement, revealing a personal tragedy behind the music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Berlioz celebrated the "expressive instrumental genre," believing that music without words becomes vague and gains more power over the imagination.
Composition History
Massenet's "Élégie" began as a piano piece in 1866, then became a song and incidental music for a tragedy six years later.
Performer Biography
Ensemble Contraste, directed by Johan Farjot and Arnaud Thorette, was formed in 2000 and aims to reinvent the classical concert experience by placing the audience at its center.
Performer Biography
Karine Deshayes, the mezzo-soprano on this album, won the First Prize of the Voix Nouvelles competition in 2002 and was named Opera singer of the year at the Victoires de la Musique in 2011.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in March and December 2014 at Saint-Pierre Church in Paris.
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