A Choral Journal Search for French Clarity

This week on Going Beyond Words, Host Stan Schmidt brings to ACDA Radio and ChoralNet,  a reflection of two articles in the May 2018 issue of the Choral Journal….the first by Conductor Brent Rogers, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Dickinson State University titled “Between Berlioz & Fauré – Camille Saint-Saëns’s, Messe de Requiem Op. 54”…This article reminded me that GBW listeners had not heard this  Exceptional Mass since 2000…..So on this broadcast it is the feature work with the Coro della Radio and Symphony Italiana from Radio Svizzera with Diego Fasolis in charge.   You will also enjoy a short Saint-Saëns composition “Flowers and Trees” for unaccompanied chorus.     ……The second article in this May  2018 issue was prepared by Stephen Caldwell, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arkansas….In this piece Caldwell discusses the Choral Music of Ernest Chausson a French composer with many instrumental works but states that only a handful of them remain in the general repertory.   He Also confesses that “Chausson’s modest output of choral compositions are almost entirely unknown in North American, but worthy of rediscovery”.  This set me searching my studio of over 14,000 CD’s and discovered only one but that was for solo voice.   It was a three part piece “Poéme de l’amour et de la mer”.  I chose to air the first movement,   “Flowers and Trees” Op. 62 No. 2 and confirms the author’s statement that “Chausson wrote many exquisite melodies”.   When you listen you will want to repeat this visit, listen… and search for some of Chausson’s Choral music on the digital compass.  The artists for the Chausson piece is Lyric Soprano Soile Isokoski who brings her rich vocal clarity to life assisted by the Helsinki Philharmonoic Orchestra led by John Storgårds.

For a look at the CD’s used and a complete list of the music heard go to the blog of WWW.GONGBEYONDWORDS.COM website and click on show 2429