Schmitt: Psalm 47; Le Palais hanté; La Tragédie de Salomé – São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and Choir, Yan Pascal Tortelier
Florent Schmitt was well known as a critic and composer during his lifetime, but his compositions fell into neglect after his death. Difficult to pigeonhole, he has been called everything from conservative to neo-romantic to revolutionary, and Henri Dutilleux wrote of him that he ‘gave back to the French school certain notions of grandeur’.
The three works on this CD are all remarkable in their own ways – for their rhythmic exuberance, their rich and varied orchestration, their imaginative use of traditional harmonies, and, in the case of Le Palais hanté and La Tragédie de Salomé, for their exploration of the dark side of humanity. One of the most thrillingly exciting choral works of the twentieth century, rich in energy and colourful sonorities, Psalm 47 is overwhelming in its impact.
On this recording, the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and Choir are conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier, an exclusive Chandos artist who over the years has built up an impressive and highly regarded discography with the label.
