Milhaud: Le bœuf sur le toit; Le carnaval d'Aix; Le carnaval de Londres & Other Works

Featuring

Jack Gibbons
Ronald Corp
New London Orchestra
Darius Milhaud

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Composer Biography

Before a crippling disease confined him to a wheelchair, Darius Milhaud was a highly reputed performing musician, excelling as a pianist, violinist, violist, and conductor.

Composer Biography

Milhaud was incredibly prolific, composing almost 450 works by the time of his death, and could write music under any circumstances, impervious to outside noise.

Composition History

Milhaud's L'apothéose de Molière was commissioned by Italian Radio for the RAI Orchestra to perform at the 1948 Capri Festival.

Composer's Artistic Vision

L'apothéose de Molière is described as an essence of Gallic charm, expressed through the coming-together of four great French artists: Lully, Anet, Molière, and Milhaud.

Compositional Technique

Le bœuf sur le toit, a ballet by Milhaud, is an extraordinary blend of musical and non-musical elements, originally conceived as an accompaniment for a Charlie Chaplin film.

Historical Context

Milhaud was part of 'Les Six', a group of young composers dubbed by Henri Collet after a concert series in Paris following Milhaud's return from Brazil in 1919.

Cultural Impact

Le bœuf sur le toit was so notorious that a Parisian nightclub, opened soon after its premiere, took the title as its name, and Milhaud was given life membership.