Charles-François Gounod, at age twenty-one in 1839, was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome for his cantata Fernand, winning twenty-three out of twenty-five possible votes.
Notable Performances
Both of Gounod's symphonies were premiered by the Société des jeunes artistes, conducted by Jules Pasdeloup, who typically focused on German classics.
Historical Context
In the 1860s, French composers like Édouard Lalo, a contemporary of Charles-François Gounod, faced the perception that writing symphonies meant one could not write operas.
Recording & Production
This recording uses 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Performer Biography
Yan Pascal Tortelier, the conductor, won first prize for violin at the Paris Conservatoire at age fourteen and made his solo debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra shortly thereafter.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Gounod praised the bassoon as an instrument capable of rendering every possible feeling, from passionate to comical, tender, and sorrowful.
Composition History
Composer Felix Mendelssohn, after spending four days with Gounod in Leipzig in 1843, urged him to write another symphony.
