Régine Théodoresco, the conductor, is a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and frequently commissions new works from contemporary composers.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Florent Schmitt's music is characterized by its independence from compositional schools, blending a 'German' conception of sound with a unique harmonic language.
Compositional Technique
Schmitt's harmonic language, while remaining tonal, pushes chromaticism to extreme limits, making some pieces challenging to listen to and perform.
Critical Reception
Schmitt's music was sometimes poorly received due to his harmonic audacity and his adherence to tonality when Schoenberg was abandoning it.
Performer Biography
Calliope - Régine Théodoresco, Voix de femmes, is a professional choir from the Rhône-Alpes region, specializing in 20th-century, modern, and contemporary music.
Composer Biography
Florent Schmitt, born in 1870 in Lorraine, studied at the Conservatoire de Paris with André Gedalge and Gabriel Fauré.
Compositional Technique
Schmitt often used texts by 'Yks,' a mysterious pseudonym likely referring to himself, which feature surrealist lyrics and sound games.
