Les Siècles

This programme is a double nod, firstly by a conductor who for many years has been a passionate champion of the French repertoire, and secondly to the history of the Théâtre itself, which has also been a very keen advocate of this repertoire ever since it was founded. The programme for this evening is not dissimilar to 2 April 1913, an inaugural concert devoted to French music in which Saint-Saëns, Fauré, d’Indy, Debussy and Dukas took turns at the rostrum to conduct their own works under the ceiling with its decor by Maurice Denis. François-Xavier Roth was fully aware of this when he decided to present some of the best-known pieces by Debussy, Roussel, Dukas and Ravel, as well as two rarities by composers from the preceding generation. The ballet Namouna by Lalo dates from 1882 and displays a fine mastery of writing, notably due to its particularly lush orchestration. The Scènes alsaciennes, the seventh and final opus of the Symphonic Suites composed by Massenet, also dates from 1882. Massenet magnificently translates into music all the nostalgia he feels for Alsace which was lost after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.

Coproduction Théâtre des Champs-Elysées / Les Siècles
En collaboration avec le Palazzetto Bru Zane
Concert broadcast on Mezzo (date to be announced)