French Elegy - Massenet, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Faure, Vieuxtemps & Debussy

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A beautiful program featuring French music from the turn of the 19/20th century, evoking a late-romantic and mildly impressionistic atmosphere in elegiac mood.

Composers: Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saëns, Gabriel Fauré, Henri Vieuxtemps, Jules Massenet & Maurice Ravel
Artists: Roma Tre Orchestra & Sieva Borzak (conductor)

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Coming into French and English from the Greek élegos (‘lament’), an elegy (élégie) is a poetic or musical composition expressing sorrow or lamentation, typically mourning the loss of a loved one or reflecting on themes of grief and melancholy.

Massenet’s famous ‘Clair de lune’, presented here in an arrangement by the composer himself, envelops us in a dreamlike atmosphere, with the piano painting a delicate lunar landscape permeated by a subtle melancholy. The original is one of the most touching scenes in the opera Werther, when the protagonist feels his love for Charlotte rising within him.

Contrary to popular belief, Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte is not dedicated to a departed soul. Rather, it is a nostalgic evocation of an imaginary childhood, rich in charm and mystery. Joseph Jemain’s orchestration adds, if possible, further depth and suggestiveness to Ravel’s music by introducing the piano into the ensemble, the protagonist of Ravel’s original version.

The violin and piano engage in a dialogue of deep contemplation in Saint-Saëns’s Élégie in D, Op.143. The poignant melody and refined harmony express feelings of loss and consolation. This very intense and moving piece has secured an important place in the violin repertoire.

The cello assumes the role of narrator in Fauré’s Élégie, Op.24 recounting a story of pain and hope with great expressive intensity. A highly lyrical and touching piece, it is distinguished by its expressive writing and singable melody.

Debussy’s Suite bergamasque transports us to a world of dreams and suggestions. Through four evocative dances with a Renaissance and Baroque flavour, the orchestra leads us on a musical journey rich in charm and delicacy. Wilhelm Renz’s orchestration makes Debussy’s picturesque music even more vivid. Renz is also the arranger of the Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals featured here. His orchestral version adds brilliance and colour to the composer’s music while maintaining its original spirit of fun and irony, streamlining the orchestration in some places and adding elements for a richer, more layered sound in others.

Several of the works are transcribed for an instrumental ensemble featuring flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello & double bass. Sensuous and evocative performances by the Roma Tre Orchestra, conducted by Sieva Borzak.

Elisa Eleonora Papandrea violin (tr.3, 7-24), Giacomo Sermoneta violin (tr.1, 6-24)
Lorenzo Rundo viola (tr.2, 5, 7-24), Alessandro Guaitolini cello (tr.2, 4, 7-24)
Diego Di Paolo double bass (tr.2, 7-24), Marta Lorenza Grieco flute (tr.2, 7-24)
Simona Maffei oboe (tr.7-24), Gianmarco Corinto clarinet (tr.7-24)
Angela Gravina bassoon (tr.7-24), Bar Zemach horn (tr.7-24)
Beatrice Barison piano (all tracks)
Sieva Borzak conductor (tr.7-24)

Tracklist:
0:00:00 Massenet: Claire de lune (from Werther)
0:03:32 Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte, M.19 (Transcription by J. Jeamian)
0:09:03 Saint-Saëns: Élégie in D Major, Op. 143
0:14:39 Fauré: Élégie, Op. 24
0:21:07 Vieuxtemps: Élégie, Op. 30
0:28:29 Massenet: Élégie

Debussy: Suite bergamasque, L.75 (Transcription by Wolfgang Renz):
0:30:15 I. Prelude
0:34:44 II. Minuetto
0:39:09 III. Claire de lune
0:44:41 IV. Passepied

Saint-Saëns: La carnaval des animaux (Transcription by Wolfgang Renz):
0:48:52 I. Introduction et marche royale du lion
0:50:50 II. Poules et coqs
0:51:37 III. Hémiones (Animaux véloces)
0:52:17 IV. Tortues
0:53:51 V. Éléphant
0:55:14 VI. Kangourous
0:56:05 VII. Aquarium
0:58:32 VIII. Personnages à longues oreilles
0:59:14 IX. Le coucou au fond des bois
1:01:34 X. Volière
1:02:54 XI. Pianistes
1:04:29 XII. Fossiles
1:05:53 XIII. Cygne
1:08:42 XIV. Finale

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