Honegger's international career was launched in 1921 by his dramatic psalm Le roi David.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Honegger had a lifelong appreciation for technology, which is evident in his extensive output for film and radio, including Abel Gance's 1927 epic film Napoléon.
Performer Biography
Takuo Yuasa, the conductor on this album, is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra in Northern Ireland and an exclusive Naxos Artist.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Honegger's Third Symphony, 'Liturgique', tackles grave questions about mankind's survival, with each movement titled after a part of the liturgy.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at Wellington Town Hall in Wellington, New Zealand, from January 23-25, 2002.
Composer Biography
Arthur Honegger, a Swiss-French composer, studied at the Paris Conservatoire from 1911-1918, where he developed a love for counterpoint and fugal procedures.
Compositional Technique
In his piece Pacific 231, Honegger depicts a train in motion by decreasing note values to express acceleration, while actually slowing the tempo.
