Roussel, A.: Symphony No. 2 / Pour Une Fete De Printemps / Suite in F Major

Featuring

Stéphane Denève
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Albert Roussel

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Critical Reception

Albert Roussel's Second Symphony, featured on this album, had a muted success at its 1922 premiere and, despite being championed by Serge Koussevitzky, never established itself in the symphonic repertoire.

Performer Biography

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, performing on this album, was formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra and was granted its 'Royal' title at its centenary in 1991.

Performer Biography

Stéphane Denève, the conductor on this album, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra received a prestigious Diapason d'Or de l'Année award in 2007 for their first recording of Albert Roussel's works.

Composition History

Albert Roussel destroyed almost all his compositions from the 1890s, making his public debut as a composer only in 1903.

Compositional Technique

Albert Roussel's Suite in F, composed in 1926, recalls Baroque concertos in its three-movement design but features abrasive harmonies, motoric rhythms, and pungent humor for a contemporary feel.

Composer Biography

Albert Roussel, a composer who forged a personal idiom, was a tutor at the Schola Cantorum, teaching a generation of composers including Eric Satie, Edgard Varèse, and Bohuslav Martinů.

Composer Biography

Albert Roussel, the composer featured on this album, spent his early manhood in the French Navy, rising to the rank of lieutenant and visiting the Near East and China.