In a classical music world finally emerging from the COVID-19 crisis, orchestras are beginning again to program “large orchestra” works that had been embargoed due to social distancing requirements. It bodes well for French composer Florent Schmitt’s big, highly colorful scores.
Florent Schmitt’s music comes roaring back in the 2021-22 concert season as the music world emerges from the COVID crises. (Portrait: Pierrette Lambert, 1992)
The year 2020 was one of several important anniversaries for classical music composers. The biggest one, of course, was Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday anniversary. But 2020 was also the 150th anniversary of Florent Schmitt’s birth.
Accordingly, the number of orchestral performances planned for Schmitt’s anniversary season was the largest amount seen in recent history. But then the COVID-19 pandemic burst onto the scene with little warning, scuttling concerts throughout the world.
Nearly all of the Florent Schmitt concerts planned in 2020-21 were casualties as well — except for several in Japan and Germany that were able to go on because they required only chamber-sized ensembles which could be accommodated in highly restricted performance environments.
Thankfully, with the dawn of the new concert season we’re now seeing new signs of life for orchestras, and for devotees of Florent Schmitt’s music, it means the opportunity to experience seven of Schmitt’s important orchestral works in concert planned for the United States, Europe and Japan.
Listed below are details on the upcoming season’s concerts, along with web links to find out additional information about the performances and ticket reservations. (Note: More concerts likely to be announced in the coming weeks, as some orchestras are publishing their program calendars later than usual.)
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September 23 (Paris) & 25 (Evian-les-bains), 2021
Schmitt: Le Palais hanté, Op. 49 (1900-04)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9
Tchaikovsky: Concerto in D Major for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 35
Orchestre National de France; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor
Leonidas Kavakos, violin
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October 13 (Tokyo) & 14 (Kyoto), 2021
Schmitt: Lied et scherzo, Op. 54 (1910)
Françaix: Concerto for Trombone & Wind Ensemble
Françaix: Le Gai Paris
Gipps: Sinfonietta
Poulenc: Sonata for Horn, Trumpet & Trombone
Satie: Sonnerie pour reveiller le bon gros roi des singes
Sinfonietta Shizuoka; Tomoya Nakahara, conductor
Yoshiyuki Tsukihara, French horn
Tadaaki Kato, trombone
Jun’ichiro Sugiki, trumpet
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October 28, 2021
Schmitt: Suite en trois parties, Op. 133 (1955)
Dukas: Polyeucte Overture
Jolas: Onze Lieder for Trumpet & Orchestra
Poulenc: Les Biches, Ballet Suite
Malmö Symphony Orchestra; Fabien Gabel, conductor
Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet
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December 13, 2021
Schmitt: La Tragédie de Salomé, Op. 50 (1907/10)
Bonis: Salomé, Op. 100
Richard Strauss: Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps
Osnabrück Symphony Orchestra; Andreas Hotz, conductor
Osnabrück Theatre Women’s Chorus
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February 18, 2022
Schmitt: Janiana Symphony for Strings, Op. 101 (1941)
Ferroud: Symphony in A Major
Hindemith: Konzertmusik for Strings and Winds, Op. 50
Ladmirault: Rhapsodie gaélique: Chanson écossaise des basses-terres
Sinfonietta Shizuoka; Tomoya Nakahara, conductor
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April 22-23, 2022
Schmitt: La Tragédie de Salomé, Op. 50 (1907/10)
Bonis: Salomé, Op. 100
Hillborg: Concerto for Cello & Orchestra
Richard Strauss: Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils
Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Fabien Gabel, conductor
Nicolas Altstaedt, cello
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May 12, 2022
Schmitt: Reves, Op. 65 (1915)
Schmitt: Psaume XLVII, Op. 38 (1904)
Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos & Orchestra
Stravinsky Le Chant du rossignol
Orchestre National de France; Fabien Gabel, conductor
Marie Perbost, soprano
Karol Mossakowski, organ
Chœur de Radio France
Katia & Marielle Labèque, duo-pianists
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May 19, 2022
Schmitt: La Tragédie de Salomé, Op. 50 (1907/10)
Britten: Les Illuminations, Op. 18
Debussy: Nocturnes
Hamburg Symphony Orchestra; Sylvain Cambreling, conductor
Women’s Voices of the Europa Chor Akademie Görlitz
Sebastian Kohlhepp, tenor
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More information on these upcoming concerts can be found on the web pages of the various arts organizations (click or tap on the links above).
In the coming weeks, it is likely that additional concerts featuring Florent Schmitt’s music will be announced for the upcoming season. They will be added to the listing above as soon as the information is known.