Hervé Niquet, the conductor, is a recognized specialist in French repertoire from the Baroque to Debussy and founded Le Concert Spirituel in 1987.
Cultural Impact
The Palazzetto Bru Zane, a center for French Romantic music, aims to rediscover and promote the French musical heritage of the 19th century (1780-1920).
Composition History
Berlioz's orchestration of his song cycle Les Nuits d'été in 1856 is considered to have invented the genre of the orchestral song.
Recording & Production
This album is a collaboration between Palazzetto Bru Zane, a center for French Romantic music, and Alpha Classics, who work together on musicological research and publishing.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The title of this recital, "Paysage" (Landscape), reflects the principle of French song, which sculpts dramatic scenes in miniature, often intimate and always moving.
Compositional Technique
French orchestral songs often use a delicate filigree of sound, with paired woodwinds, two horns, a harp, and strings, rather than the overpowering instrumentation of a Romantic symphony.
Performer Biography
Véronique Gens, the soprano on this album, has established an international reputation after dominating the Baroque scene for over a decade.
