Reynaldo Hahn, a composer featured on this album, deeply admired Camille Saint-Saëns, another composer on this album, from childhood and met him for the first time in 1895.
Historical Context
The choral works of Saint-Saëns and Hahn were often composed for amateur singers in the Parisian salons of the Belle Époque, a period of French history from the late 19th century to World War I.
Historical Context
The enthusiasm for choral music during the Belle Époque was part of a larger movement called 'orphéons,' which were amateur choral or instrumental ensembles from various social classes.
Composition History
Hahn's piece "À la lumière," which gives this album its title, was a test piece for the Grand International Music Competition in Cannes in 1925.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Both Saint-Saëns and Hahn aimed to highlight the poetic texts they set to music, focusing on intelligibility and prosody, and offering diverse vocal combinations.
Recording & Production
Two pieces on this album, "L'obscurité" and "À la lumière" by Reynaldo Hahn, are world premiere recordings.
Compositional Technique
Saint-Saëns and Hahn drew inspiration from rediscovered Renaissance madrigals and polyphonic chansons, as well as Baroque and Classical opera choruses, to renew French choral tradition.
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