Ciconia Consort, The Hague String Orchestra, Paolo Giacometti, Dick van Gasteren - Couleurs de France (2025) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Casterede Prelude et fugue pour cordes (A Paul Kuentz, 1960)
02. Casterede Concerto pour piano et orchestre a cordes (1954) I. Pastorale
03. Casterede Concerto pour piano et orchestre a cordes (1954) II. Scherzo
04. Casterede Concerto pour piano et orchestre a cordes (1954) III. Nocturne
05. Casterede Concerto pour piano et orchestre a cordes (1954) IV. Rondo
06. Jolivet Symphonie pour cordes (1961) I. Farouche
07. Jolivet Symphonie pour cordes (1961) II. Flottant
08. Jolivet Symphonie pour cordes (1961) III. Trepidant
09. Daniel-Lesur Serenade pour cordes (A Maurice Ohana, 1954) I. Allegretto
10. Daniel-Lesur Serenade pour cordes (A Maurice Ohana, 1954) II. Adagio
11. Daniel-Lesur Serenade pour cordes (A Maurice Ohana, 1954) III. Allegro deciso

This recording by Ciconia Consort, Couleurs de France, offers a rare and evocative journey through four lesser-known works for string orchestra by three prominent 20th-century French composers: André Jolivet, Jacques Castérède, and Daniel-Lesur.
Jacques Castérède’s connection to his French predecessors is evident in his use of modal, chromatic, and diatonic scales. A student of Olivier Messiaen, Castérède nonetheless forged a highly personal harmonic style within an extended tonal idiom, characterized by melodic clarity and accessibility. His compositions seem to harmoniously blend the various French styles of the 20th century. In his work, we hear the sonic fingerprints of Arthur Honegger, Daniel-Lesur, and his teacher Messiaen – all woven into a coherent, lyrical whole.
Throughout his life, André Jolivet aimed to restore to music its original, ancient meaning, when it served as a magical, incantatory expression of the religious beliefs of human communities.* His later compositions continued this exploration, seeking music’s original function as an emotional, ritualistic, and celebratory form of expression. His Symphonie pour cordes, commissioned by French radio and television, was composed in 1961 and premiered on January 9, 1962. The symphony demands exceptional technical skill from all performers. It is written in a freely atonal idiom and is characterized by intense dissonance.
Daniel Jean Yves Lesur (1908–2002) was a French composer, organist, and teacher, closely linked to the group La Jeune France, alongside Olivier Messiaen and André Jolivet. His music often reflects a balance between tradition and modernity, combining rich harmonic language with a sense of spiritual depth. Lesur’s output includes choral works, chamber music, and orchestral compositions, yet he remains less widely known than some of his contemporaries.
Among his instrumental works is the Sérénade pour cordes (1949), a luminous piece that highlights his lyrical style and refined craftsmanship. Written for string orchestra, it embraces classical clarity while exploring colorful modal harmonies, characteristic of Lesur’s personal voice.
This recording is the 5th CD on Brilliant Classics of the Ciconia Consort (The Hague String Orchestra), a Dutch string orchestra conducted by Dick van Gasteren, an internationally active conductor, who was Bernard Haitink’s assistant during the Mahler Festival Amsterdam in 1995.

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