Unsung Composers

The Music => Recordings & Broadcasts => Topic started by: Wheesht on Thursday 17 June 2021, 13:32

Title: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Wheesht on Thursday 17 June 2021, 13:32
The closing concert of the Palazzetto Bru Zane festival, entitled 'Legendary Women' (https://bru-zane.com/en/evento/donne-leggendarie/), will be broadcast live on Radio France Musique on 1 July at 20.00 CET:
Augusta HOLMÈS
La Nuit et l'Amour, interlude extrait de l'ode symphonique Ludus pro Patria
Mel BONIS
Femmes de légende
Marie JAËLL
Concerto pour violoncelle
Charlotte SOHY
Symphonie « Grande Guerre »
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Richard Moss on Friday 18 June 2021, 09:40
Wheesht,

Great spot!  I'm surprised you haven't been overwhelmed with replies so far.

Both Augusta Holmes and Marie Jaell are composers whose recorded works I have some acquaintance with but not the other two.  It seems a possible mouth-watering broadcast and if anyone has the expertise to record it and upload, that would really be appreciated.

Best wishes and keep safe

Richard
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Friday 18 June 2021, 09:59
I absolutely agree. This is potentially a wonderful concert of rarely heard music. If it can be recorded I would be extremely grateful.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Wheesht on Friday 18 June 2021, 10:15
It is always interesting to see what causes lots of reactions right away and what doesn't (or only after some time), and I like how unpredictable it sometimes is.

I will certainly do my best to record this broadcast. I have been looking at some French websites about Charlotte Sohy and I believe a CD was mentioned somewhere. There is a recording of her symphony available on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/362497039) with the same conductor, Debora Waldman, and the Orchestre Victor Hugo, Franche Comté.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Friday 18 June 2021, 11:29
And a very good work it is, IMHO. At least, from my hearing of that performance.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Alan Howe on Friday 18 June 2021, 12:24
Surely a recording will follow...
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Alan Howe on Friday 18 June 2021, 12:28
For those who can read French, here's some info on Charlotte Sohy:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Sohy

Her only Symphony in C sharp minor has the title 'Great War' and dates from 1914-17. Listening to it, I'm reminded somewhat of Chausson. It's a lovely piece, well worthy of revival.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: jdperdrix on Friday 18 June 2021, 12:41
QuoteThere is a recording of her symphony available on Vimeo with the same conductor, Debora Waldman, and the Orchestre Victor Hugo, Franche Comté.
Quite interesting indeed. She had good professors (Vierne, d'Indy), which is obvious in her symphony. I've never heard an orchestral piece by Mel Bonis. This concert will be most welcome. I'll try to get it from France Musique (from their replay section).
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Wheesht on Friday 18 June 2021, 12:42
Here's an interview in French with her grandson, François-Henri Labey, a professional musician, on the Présence Compositrices website (https://www.presencecompositrices.com/mag/charlotte-sohy-renaissance-dune-compositrice).
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: eschiss1 on Friday 18 June 2021, 16:24
Labey? I'm guessing related also to composer Marcel... ah, her husband from 1909, I see :) (I've run into some of her husband's works and arrangements - e.g. of a horn and orchestra work by Dukas, iirc - on IMSLP. Labey's symphonies (pub. 1904, 1909) might be interesting, don't know.)
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Wheesht on Friday 18 June 2021, 16:58
There is a comprehensive Labey biography and work list on the Musica et Memoria website (http://www.musimem.com/labey.htm), with a description of the four symphonies in the body of the text.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Wheesht on Thursday 01 July 2021, 21:45
The concert will be available on Radio France Musique for a month. My recording of tonight's live broadcast is on my hard disk.
There was an interesting announcement in the intermission: Bru Zane are apparently working on a big recording project of female composers. More information to follow in a few months.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: alberto on Sunday 04 July 2021, 18:51
Le Songe de Cleopatre, excerpt from the suite "Femmes de Legende" by Mel Bonis will be performed also at the Festival Berlioz , la Cote St Andrè, France, on the 20th of August (Orch. de Metz, D.Reiland cond.).
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Mark Thomas on Monday 05 July 2021, 11:58
Thanks, Wheesht, for the recordings of the concert now in our Downloads Board. Very much appreciated.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Richard Moss on Monday 05 July 2021, 12:45
Wheesht

Can I pls echo Mark's thanks - very much appreciated and I look forward to an enjoyable listen

Best wishes

Richard
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: Wheesht on Monday 05 July 2021, 12:53
Gentlemen,

Thank you for your interest. I for one had a very enjoyable listen already – and who knows, there may be a recording in the offing at some stage.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: semloh on Wednesday 07 July 2021, 01:09
What a superb concert - I've enjoyed every piece. The Interlude by Augusta Holmes, which was included on her Marco Polo disc, is always pure delight.
Title: Re: Radio France 1st July: Augusta Holmès, Mel Bonis, Marie Jaëll, Charlotte Sohy
Post by: regal on Sunday 19 September 2021, 13:55
Living in Paris, as soon as the concert was announced, I bought my ticket and I do not regret it. Charlotte Sohy's symphony was the only work I didn't know. The concert program announces a recording of the symphony for the Bru Zane label that I will add to my collection as soon as it will be released.