Roussel, A.: Bacchus Et Ariane (Bacchus and Ariadne) / Symphony No. 3

Featuring

Stéphane Denève
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Albert Roussel

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Composition History

Roussel's Third Symphony was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra for its fiftieth anniversary season, alongside works by Honegger, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky.

Critical Reception

The Third Symphony is the only one of Roussel's symphonies to have retained its place in the repertoire.

Composer Biography

Roussel studied at the Schola Cantorum with Vincent d'Indy and later taught a generation of composers including Eric Satie, Edgard Varèse, and Bohuslav Martinů.

Performer Biography

Stéphane Denève, the conductor, is a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, where he was awarded a unanimous First Prize in 1995.

Composer Biography

Albert Roussel, the composer, initially served in the French Navy, rising to lieutenant and visiting the Near East and China before resigning to study music.

Compositional Technique

The ballet Bacchus et Ariane is typically Rousselian in its symphonically structured two acts, from which the composer created two suites without essential changes to the musical content.

Recording & Production

This recording was sponsored by TOTAL E&P UK Limited, a subsidiary of the French Group TOTAL, as part of a cultural partnership with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.