Rita Strohl: Douze chants de Bilitis

Featuring

Marianne Croux
Anne Bertin-Hugault
Rita Strohl

Did you know?

1/7

Composer Biography

Rita Strohl, the composer, was admitted to the Paris Conservatory at age thirteen and quickly began composing her own exercises and pieces.

Composition History

Rita Strohl composed her 'Douze Chants de Bilitis' in 1898, unaware of Claude Debussy's similar work on 'Chansons de Bilitis' which appeared in 1899.

Recording & Production

This album marks the first phonographic recording of Rita Strohl's 'Chansons de Bilitis'.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Rita Strohl's musical inspirations were characterized by fervor and mysticism, blending Catholic, Hindu, Celtic, and pantheistic religious influences.

Composition History

Rita Strohl considered her musical settings of Baudelaire's 'Les Fleurs du Mal' and Pierre Louÿs's 'Chansons de Bilitis' to be a turning point in her intellectual and musical evolution.

Critical Reception

Rita Strohl's 'Chansons de Bilitis' were very successful during her lifetime, but performances and recordings have since become rare.

Performer Biography

Marianne Croux, the soprano on this recording, was named a 'lyric revelation' by ADAMI in 2017 and was honored as an Officer of Walloon Merit by the Belgian government.