Nearly a third of Gounod's approximately 150 published melodies were written in English, composed during his London years (1870-1874) and after his return to France.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For Gounod, music served the words, aiming to support and enhance them, unlike his contemporary Berlioz who prioritized music over text.
Composer Biography
Charles Gounod, the composer, was raised by his mother who introduced him to music after his painter father died when Gounod was five.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded by Little Tribeca at the Palazzetto Bru Zane in Venice, a palace from 1695 specifically restored to house the Centre de musique romantique française.
Composer Biography
Gounod initially considered entering the priesthood, and his strong devotion led to a significant body of religious works, though his passion for theater ultimately prevailed.
Compositional Technique
Gounod's vocal music is characterized by his ability to find melodic movements that closely match the inflections of pronunciation and the rhythm of spoken language, emphasizing eloquence.
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