Hertfordshire Chamber Orchestra

Fauré :Masques et Bergamasques Françaix: Dances from "les Malheurs de Sophie" (for wind dectet) Poulenc: Organ concerto (soloist: Robert Mingay-Smith) Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin Poulenc: Sinfonietta

A concert of 20th Century French Music: Two pieces appeared in the aftermath of First World War and three straddle the Second. All take cues from earlier times and play their role in the contrast between sobriety and pleasure notable across the arts in the last century.

Fauré's wistful divertissement inspired by commedia dell'arte characters was commissioned by the Prince of Monaco in 1919. That same year Ravel orchestrated his commemoration of a prominent forebear, giving a cheerful face to the sombre memory of a friend lost in the War behind each 18th century dance. More carefree are the dances in which Jean Françaix illustrates the escapades of miscreant Sophie at her parents' Second Empire chateau in 'la France profonde'.

Of all French composers representing the bifurcation in 20th century music, Francis Poulenc is an exemplar: a devoutly religious hedonist plagued by manic depression. His baroque-influenced 1938 Organ concerto enshrines these conflicting passions, and his 1948 Sinfonia (a BBC commission) runs the gamut of emotions marking his and the century's life.

Featuring - Hertfordshire Chamber Orchestra