David : Christophe Colomb Musique de chambre symphonique et sacrée

Description

Each record-book in the "Portraits" collection is dedicated to a now-forgotten French composer. It presents a varied musical panorama of their work by bringing together the talents of numerous artists. The portrait of Félicien David aims to complement the already available discography with world premiere recordings of important works by the composer. Notably, it will feature part of his symphonic catalog, particularly Symphony No. 3 and the overture to his comic opera La Perle du Brésil, a work that truly launched the composer into a lyrical career. However, it is especially the Christophe Colomb from 1847 that should be highlighted, as this ode-symphony with narrator ambitiously extends the success of Le Désert, performed at the Théâtre-Italien a few years earlier. This record-book does not forget that Félicien David was also a salon man appreciated for his intimate music, particularly his melodies. Thus, one can discover excerpts from the Mélodies orientales for solo piano, a selection of romances in the style of the 1840s, and the very rare youth motets for choir with varied forces. The highlight of this Portrait lies in the unearthing of the Jugement dernier, the finale intended for the apotheosis of the opera Herculanum, ultimately cut and never published until today.