Rita Strohl - Orchestral Music on 'La boîte à pépites'

[Wheesht]

The 3 disc set with chamber music by Rita Strohl on the 'La boîte à pépites' label that was mentioned earlier here is now available. The same label will issue one disc with orchestral music in a month from now. It will contain these works:

La Symphonie de la Forêt - (1901 ou 1903) 44'54
pour orchestre
Orchestre National d'Île-de-France, dir. Case Scaglione
I. L'Étang 15'30
II. L'Âme en peine 6'49
III. Marche funèbre d'un scarabée 3'40
IV. Chasse à l'aurore - Aurore et lever de soleil 18'54
 
Les Cygnes - poésie de Georges Rodenbach - (1899) 7'47
pour orchestre et chant
Marie Perbost, Orchestre National d'Île-de-France, dir. Case Scaglione
"Les cygnes blancs, dans les canaux des villes mortes"
 
La Flûte de Pan - poème de Pierre Louÿs - (1900) 3'21
pour orchestre et chant
Marie Perbost, Orchestre National d'Île-de-France, dir. Case Scaglione
"Pour le jour des Hyacinthies, il m'a donné un syrinx"
 
La Momie - (1905) 4'42 
pour orchestre et chant
Lucile Richardot, Orchestre National d'Île-de-France, dir. Case Scaglione
"Belle petite morte au squelette exigu"
 
la Cloche fêlée - poésie de Charles Baudelaire - (1905) 3'23
pour orchestre et chant - 
Lucile Richardot, Orchestre National d'Île-de-France, dir. Case Scaglione
"Il est amer et doux, pendant les nuits d'hiver"
 
Yajnavalkya - Mystère sacré en trois actes- (1907) 10'32
pour orchestre
Orchestre National d'Île-de-France, dir. Case Scaglione
Prélude de l'Acte II

[Alan Howe]

Thanks for flagging this up. A must-buy for me!

[Gareth Vaughan]

Moi aussi.

[Alan Howe]

Here's an appreciative review at MusicWeb:
https://musicwebinternational.com/2024/09/strohl-vol-3-orchestral-music-la-boite-a-pepites/

[Alan Howe]

Listening to her 'Symphonie de la forêt' (1901 or 1903), by far the longest piece on the CD, I'm immediately struck by pre-echoes of Ravel (e.g. Daphnis et Chloé). It's extremely atmospheric - perhaps too much so. The danger is that the music all-too often loses its way in the 'haze'. However, it's all very beautiful. Is it great music? I don't think so, but listeners will surely enjoy the scenery...

[Mark Thomas]

I have enjoyed the energy and directness of Strohl's chamber music very much but this Symphony, initially at least, is a disappointment. Alan's description is spot on, it sounds gorgeous but one has no sense of momentum or direction, either within each movement or for the Symphony as whole. To be fair, the short orchestral songs are ravishing

[Alan Howe]

Perhaps Strohl should simply have called the work 'Dans la forêt'?