Elsa Barraine, a notable and politically intrepid figure in her lifetime (1910-1999), is a composer whose distinctive voice is being heard again. Under it's music director Cristian Macelaru, the Orchestre national de France performs four works by Barraine: the Symphony No 1, completed in Italy in 1931; the compact, but powerful Symphony No 2, composed in 1938 and ominously subtitled 'VoÃ¯na', the French transliteration of the Russian word for 'war'; Song-KoÃ¯ (Le Fleuve rouge) - an eight-movement evocation of the Red River which flows through Vietnam, composed in 1945, the year Vietnam declared it's independence from France, and, dating from 1959, Les Tziganes, which, as it's name implies, takes inspiration from gypsy culture. Rooted in tonality, Barraine's music is confidently and soberly crafted, it's orchestral palette both clearly defined and subtly shaded as it reflects it's times and the composer's philosophical and spiritual concerns.

Tracklist:

Song-KoÃ¯: I. La source
Song-KoÃ¯: II. La haute plaine
Song-KoÃ¯: IV. La ville de Son-Phong
Song-KoÃ¯: V. Le retour des pavillons noirs
Song-KoÃ¯: VI. La riviÃ¨re Noire
Song-KoÃ¯: VII. Le fleuve Rouge reÃ§oit la riviÃ¨re Noire
Symphony No. 1: I. Andante - Vivace
Symphony No. 1: II. Adagio - Vivace
Symphony No. 1: III. Finale. Adagio - Allegro giocoso e leggiero
Symphony No. 2 "VoÃ¯na": I. Adagio - Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 2 "VoÃ¯na": II. Marche funÃ¨bre. Lento
Symphony No. 2 "VoÃ¯na": III. Finale. Allegretto
Les Tziganes

UPC: 5021732555199
Label: Erato
Release Date: 5.8.26
Format: CD

Orchestre National De France / Cristian Macelaru - Elsa Barraine: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (CD)