A Celebration of French Composers
Classical Music Local Music Events
Our season finale features a rare opportunity to hear Ransom Wilson and François Dumont live, as they perform pieces from their two albums, In the Time of Ravel and In the Age of Debussy.
Enjoy an Evening Showcasing the Beauty of French Classical Music
Our own Ransom Wilson has long had an affinity for the music of French composer Maurice Ravel. He even belongs to an international group, Les Amis de Maurice Ravel — the Friends of Maurice Ravel.
The group announced several years ago that one of its members, pianist François Dumont, had just released the complete piano music of Ravel on CD. Ransom, a Ravel aficionado, had heard many such CDs in the past and has a tendency to be hard to please.
Nonetheless, he bought Dumont’s CD. Within only a few minutes, he could hear that Dumont understood Ravel’s music completely.
In fact, Ransom was so excited by Dumont’s talent that he asked Dumont to record an album with him. Dumont agreed without hesitation.
The pair’s first album, In the Time of Ravel, did extremely well. Recently, they released another album — In the Time of Debussy. This will indeed be a happy reunion for the two performers and an extremely rare opportunity to hear them live on June 12, 2022.
What to Know About French Composers
France has played an instrumental role in the development of classical music. From Baroque to Romantic to Impressionistic, French composers have been inventive, challenging the status quo and pushing classical music into new and delightful frontiers.
During the 3 PM and 7 PM recital on June 12, Wilson and Dumont will perform pieces by beloved composers, including:
Claude Debussy
Arguably the most famous French composer of all time, Claude Debussy began playing the piano at just seven-years-old. He was studying at the Conservatory de Paris by the time he was 10. His impressionist style uses the whole tone scale and symmetry — creating pieces that offer a full breadth of emotion.
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré is a notable French composer who not only composed great works, he was an organist and teacher. Many of his pieces utilize styles that are melodically and harmonically complex — traits that influenced many composed in the 20th century.
Lili Boulanger
Female composers may not be very common in earlier epochs of classical music, but that’s not the only reason Lili Boulanger’s work stands out. It’s exciting. Her lush harmonies, instrumentation, and elegant text setting created works that have an everlasting appeal.
André Jolivet
André Jolivet began his career with the hopes of writing music for the theatre before being directly influenced by Debussy, Ravel, and Paul Dukas' concert works. Over his lifetime, his compositions would shift from modern atonal to lyrical, almost neoclassical style — but he was always a strong advocate for French music. His composing ability grew substantially, and his highly-praised concertos demanded practiced, technical skill to perform.
François Dumont — the Pianist Who Impressed Ransom
French pianist François Dumont’s international career has been filled with success. He has won prizes in a variety of competitions, including:
- Chopin Competition
- Queen Elisabeth Competition
- Clara Haskil Competition
- Montecarlo Piano Masters
Dumont has also been nominated for the Victoires de la musique, a major French classical music event. Furthermore, he has received the Prix de la Révélation from the Syndicate of Music Critics in France.
His work has been praised for its ‘singing tone’ by BBC magazine.
We Look Forward to Seeing You at The Concert
Our 21–22 season finale is a one-of-a-kind performance. It is rare to feature two acclaimed artists such as Wilson and Dumont. Their recital will be an incredible opportunity to experience their artistry in an intimate setting.
Get Your Tickets for the June 12 Recital Today.
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