The 'Symphonie liturgique' from 1946 embodies Honegger's art of simplicity within complex contexts and his sense for the elemental in rugged landscapes.
Composition History
Honegger's Symphony No. 2 for String Orchestra and Trumpet, written for Swiss patron Paul Sacher in 1940/41, is one of his most frequently performed concert works.
Composer Biography
Arthur Honegger, a Swiss merchant's son from Le Havre, was a regular guest at the Bayreuth Festival and considered himself a Beethovenian throughout his life.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Honegger's 'symphonic movements' were inspired by principles deep below the surface, rather than fleeting motifs or outwardly appealing experimental arrangements.
Compositional Technique
Arthur Honegger had the ability to clarify even complex, dissonant, and aggressive musical contexts by embedding simple, clear designs or elements.
Performer Biography
Stéphane Denève, the conductor on this album, is Chief Conductor of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (SWR) and Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Performer Biography
Stéphane Denève, a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, began his career as an assistant to renowned conductors Sir Georg Solti, Georges Prêtre, and Seiji Ozawa.
