There Are More Symphonic Poems Than Symphonies In
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César Franck rench classical music was perhaps eclipsed by the music of Germany, Austria and Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries. But the French aesthetic, purely definitive in its sensuous and improvisatory qualities, wouldF soon find an equal footing with the Germanic The tradition. During the Romantic Period, between 1830 and 1900, musicians in France revolted against the precise form of Classicism. This new era, a result of the social and political upheaval that followed the French Revolution, saw an unimpeded expression of emotion and the fuelling of the imagination. A new style of music French – programme music – developed as a means to tell a story. At the time, Paris was already a hub for musicians, thanks to the Paris Conservatory and the Paris Opera, and musicians of non-French origin made it their home alongside great French Romantics like Hector Berlioz. Touch Hungarian composer Franz Liszt arrived in Paris in 1823, as did Polish composer Frédéric Chopin who moved to What is it about French music that the city in 1832. makes it truly French? ON Stage speaks French opera at the time also differed from both to conductor and composer Laurent German and Italian opera, in that it shone a light on Petitgirard and pianist Jean-Philippe intimacy and relationships shared between characters Collard ahead of their performances as opposed to the power and scale of the latter two. Laurent Petitgirard with the Symphony Orchestra In the latter part of the 19th century, it was Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), one of the most renowned of India to find out more. French Romantic composers, who set the tone for the next generation of composers. A French sound Claude Debussy (1862-1918) followed “There are more “One of the most characteristic By Beverly Pereira in the steps of Impressionist artists by aspects of French music is the introducing a more relaxed sound tinged symphonic poems finesse of orchestration. The with colour and texture, as did Maurice musicians are able to play Ravel. The music of both composers is than symphonies in so softly that they almost improvisatory and imaginative, almost don’t hear their own sound,” as if it sought to depict a painting French music, and explains Petitgirard, well through sound. This movement also known for his symphonic included the great Gabriel Fauré who very often, the second music, operas and chamber further refined the aesthetic. music as much as he is for his Next month, the Symphony Orchestra is less convincing intuitiveness as a conductor. of India (SOI) will introduce some than the first” Petitgirard was born in Paris works of French classical music to its and studied the piano under repertoire for the very first time. In its Spring 2020 his father Serge Petitgirard and composition with his Season, the ensemble will be joined by composer and brother Alain Kremski, who was known for his Romantic conductor Laurent Petitgirard and pianist Jean-Philippe repertoire on the piano and as a noted composer of Collard, two stellar artistes from France. But, what is it works that used Asian instruments like singing bowls about French music that makes it truly French? Debussy and gongs. “French classical music is much more once wrote: “The primary aim of French music is to give difficult to approach than, say, the Germanic and pleasure.” The French composer had an ardent interest Russian traditions. A public used to hearing German or in the sensual quality of the French style of music, even Russian music (that I adore, of course) will begin to look as he was drawn to the musical language of Wagner. for a centre that does not exist,” he says. The Fifth Piano Concerto of Saint-Saëns, a pioneer of For virtuoso pianist Collard, French music is the music French classical music, is avant-garde because it was of his childhood, the music that his parents played very not only composed while he was in Egypt, but was frequently. He was born into a musical family in 1948 also inspired by the tunes he heard boatmen on the in the small village of Mareuil-sur-Ay in the north east Nile singing. César Franck’s Symphony in D minor, of France, and started playing the piano at the age believed by many to be French music’s most significant of five. “My father was an organist and played at the late-19th century symphony, apparently outraged the church every Sunday. He used to conduct amateur composer’s wife for its depiction of sensuality and choirs every Monday and concerts of religious music passion. Fauré’s Ballade in F-sharp is nothing if not (masses and oratorios) on a regular basis. It was in dramatic, sprinkled with dissonances, and once caused this very atmosphere that I, along with my brothers Liszt to say he had ‘run out of fingers’ while playing and sister, was put to the piano to practise my scales Gabriel Fauré Camille Saint-Saëns the piece. every day.” Later, at the age of 11, he entered the Paris FINE ART IMAGES/HERITAGE IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES (FRANCK, FAURÉ); THE PRINT COLLECTOR/GETTY IMAGES (SAINT-SAËNS) NCPA January 2020 • 45 Jean-Philippe Collard Conservatory and went on to by Lalo, another great French win the first prize after spending “French music favours Romantic composer, to the five years at the institution. colours, specific tones director of the Paris Opera in 1889 “French music is related to the – six years before Wagner’s death. landscape of my village, to the and requires more In the letter, he complains about people around our house. The the absence of programming music favours colours, specific restraint” of Parsifal and explains that tones and requires more Wagner is a genius. “The French restraint. There is elegance and simplicity, but also an composers during the period of 1880-1930 who were atmosphere of fog, clouds and the sun,” says Collard. listening to German music felt that it was locked by the Petitgirard explains that the shape is different, too. classical structure. The Germans, too, received French “There are more symphonic poems than symphonies, music as an unstructured work. But then came Wagner’s and very often, the second is less convincing than influence. Debussy hated it, while other composers like the first. Of course, this isn’t the case for the Franck Franck and Lalo loved it,” says the French conductor, Symphony that will be played at the NCPA. Or for who is the Perpetual Secretary of the French Academy Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. But when it comes of Fine Arts (Académie des Beaux-Arts), the premier to Dukas, Chausson and Lalo, this becomes very institution of fine art in France. obvious. Fauré, Debussy or Ravel did not compose If we are to talk about trivia that concerns French any symphonies and they are the essence of French music, we cannot ignore the fact that Collard’s 50-year music,” he says. career is also peppered with interesting stories such as the one in which he made his American debut under Beauty in the unstructured the baton of Seiji Ozawa in 1973. The story begins four The SOI repertoire will include the works of Saint- or five years before this debut. One day, under the Saëns (Piano Concerto No. 5) and Franck’s Symphony guidance of French pianist Robert Casadesus, Collard in D minor, while Collard will perform Fauré’s Ballade in was stopped 15 minutes into his audition. “Casadesus F-sharp in a recital. Renowned for his interpretations said that my gift for music was much too weak and of the works of both Fauré and Saint-Saëns, Collard poor. I was devastated. Then, in 1973, I was invited by says, “These two composers give me emotions and Ozawa to play the Ravel Concerto in G major at short pleasure. They belong not only to my country but notice. When I got to the stage and met the maestro, he also to my culture. And each time I travel abroad, I welcomed me to the U.S. and thanked me for standing in am happy to play the work of these composers and for Robert Casadesus himself,” says the French pianist. I’m proud as well to export this music to people who Unlike Collard who had visited India in 2009, this visit might never have heard it.” Petitgirard explains that will be a first for Petitgirard. “I’ve heard excellent things most people tend to forget that Saint-Saëns belongs about the SOI and I’m always very excited to play with to the 19th century and not the 20th century. “He had my dear friend Jean-Philippe, one of the great masters a beautiful melodic inspiration and is purely classical of piano today.” As for Collard, whose goal ahead of the in a distinctive way. He was, of course, horrified at the concert is to be in the best possible shape on stage, he premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.” Fauré, is expecting to learn a lot more about the country. he explains, is on the other end of the spectrum. “He was more open and his original harmonic universe Laurent Petitgirard and Jean-Philippe Collard will opened new doors very early. Fauré is more difficult perform with the SOI on 1st March at the Jamshed to propose in programmes, especially in Germany.” Bhabha Theatre. Collard will perform a solo recital on Petitgirard tells us that he possesses a letter written 28th February at the Tata Theatre. 46 • January 2020 NCPA.