Benjamin Godard, a prolific French composer, wrote over 150 opus numbers by the time of his death at age 46, including six operas, four symphonies, concertos, and numerous piano and chamber works.
Composition History
The three string quartets on this album are recorded here for the first time.
Performer Biography
The Quatuor Élysée, founded in 1995, combines the French and prestigious Russian schools of performance, enriching their interpretations with a fusion of different ideas and expressive power.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Benjamin Godard's inspiration often drew from stories, legends, and both geographic and historic exoticism, evident in titles like 'Symphonie légendaire' and 'Fantaisie persane'.
Critical Reception
Benjamin Godard was often held in low esteem by his contemporaries due to his opposition to Richard Wagner and a perceived lack of critical judgment regarding his own prolific output, which included many 'salon' pieces.
Compositional Technique
Godard's compositional style, influenced by Beethoven and Schumann, often features an ambiguous relationship with traditional instrumental forms, frequently omitting or altering the traditional re-exposition in sonata form.
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