In 2012, the Australian radio station ABC Classic FM held a Classic 100 Music of France countdown. [1]
The selection of works that were available in the survey was determined between 14 July 2012 and 17 August 2012 (with the public being able to add works to the list initiated by the station). [2] Voting (by the public) for the finalised list of works was held between 22 August 2012 and 14 September 2012. [3] [4] Each voter could select up to five works from the list of available pieces. [3]
On 30 September Pinchgut Opera held a special concert "Music of France" at the Old Courts at the Art Gallery of New South Wales to celebrate the countdown, along with a private viewing of the exhibition Eugène Atget: Old Paris. [5] [6] The concert was broadcast on ABC Classic FM and via the Internet on 3 October 2012. [7]
The broadcast of the countdown commenced on 8 October 2012 [8] and continued until 14 October 2012. [9]
The results of countdown are as follows:
Rank | Composer | Work | Genre | Instrumentation | Completed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 | Satie, Erik | "Je te veux" [lower-alpha 1] | Song | Piano, voice | 1903 |
99 | Debussy, Claude | Petite suite , L. 65 | Suite | Piano (four hands) | 1889 |
98 | Berlioz, Hector | Roméo et Juliette [lower-alpha 2] | Symphony | Orchestra, chorus | 1839 |
97 | Messiaen, Olivier | Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus [lower-alpha 3] | Suite | Piano | 1944 |
96 | Fauré, Gabriel | Dolly Suite [lower-alpha 4] | Suite | Piano (four hands) | 1896 |
95 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 | Concerto | Violin | 1880 |
94 | Poulenc, Francis | Gloria, FP 177 | Mass | Orchestra, chorus, soprano | 1961 |
93 | Bolling, Claude | Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio [lower-alpha 5] | Suite | Flute, piano, string bass, drums | 1973 |
92 | Hahn, Reynaldo | "À Chloris" | Song | Piano, voice | 1913 |
91 | Massenet, Jules | Manon [lower-alpha 6] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1884 |
90 | Berlioz, Hector | Les troyens [lower-alpha 7] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1858 |
89 | Ravel, Maurice | Gaspard de la nuit | Suite | Piano | 1908 |
88 | Ravel, Maurice | Rapsodie espagnole | Rhapsody | Orchestra | 1907 |
87 | Franck, César | Violin Sonata in A major, M. 8 [lower-alpha 8] | Sonata | Cello, [lower-alpha 8] piano | 1886 |
86 | Berlioz, Hector | Le carnaval romain , Op. 9 | Overture | Orchestra | 1843 |
85 | Chaminade, Cécile | Concertino for flute and orchestra in D major, Op. 107 | Concerto | Flute | 1902 |
84 | Franck, César | Variations symphoniques , M. 46 | Symphonic variations | Piano, orchestra | 1885 |
83 | Berlioz, Hector | La damnation de Faust [lower-alpha 9] | Dramatic legend | Orchestra, chorus, solo voices | 1846 |
82 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 | Introduction, rondo | Violin, orchestra | 1863 |
81 | Rouget de Lisle, Claude | "La Marseillaise" | Anthem | Orchestra | 1792 |
80 | Debussy, Claude | Images , Set 1, L. 110 | Impressionist | Piano | 1905 |
79 | Lully, Jean-Baptiste | Le bourgeois gentilhomme | Suite | Orchestra | 1670 |
78 | Debussy, Claude | Pelléas et Mélisande , L. 88 [lower-alpha 10] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1902 |
77 | Ravel, Maurice | Ma mère l'oye | Suite | Orchestra | 1911 |
76 | Couperin, François | Les baricades mistérieuses | Rondo | Harpsichord | 1717 |
75 | Lalo, Édouard | Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21 | Concerto | Violin | 1874 |
74 | Fauré, Gabriel | Sicilienne , Op. 78 | Siciliana | Piano, cello | 1898 |
73 | Gounod, Charles | Messe solennelle à Sainte Cécile | Mass | Orchestra, chorus | 1855 |
72 | Poulenc, Francis | Flute sonata, FP. 164 | Sonata | Flute, piano | 1957 |
71 | Boieldieu, François-Adrien | Harp concerto in C major | Concerto | Harp | 1801 |
70 | Debussy, Claude | Deux arabesques, L. 66 | Arabesque | Piano | 1891 |
69 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 | Concerto | Cello | 1872 |
68 | Berlioz, Hector | Te Deum, Op. 22 / H.118 | Te Deum | Orchestra, chorus | 1849 |
67 | Charpentier, Marc-Antoine | Te Deum, H. 146 [lower-alpha 11] | Te Deum | Orchestra, chorus | 1698 |
66 | Godard, Benjamin | "Oh! ne t'éveille pas encore" from Jocelyn | Aria | Orchestra, tenor | 1888 |
65 | Rameau, Jean-Phillipe | Les Indes galantes [lower-alpha 12] | Opera-ballet | Orchestra, chorus | 1736 |
64 | Litolff, Henry | Concerto Symphonique No. 4 in D minor, Op. 102 [lower-alpha 13] | Concerto | Piano | 1852 |
63 | Debussy, Claude | Cello Sonata, L. 135 | Sonata | Cello, piano | 1915 |
62 | Ravel, Maurice | Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major | Concerto | Piano | 1930 |
61 | Offenbach, Jacques | Gaîté parisienne [lower-alpha 14] | Ballet | Orchestra | 1938 |
60 | Duruflé, Maurice | Requiem, Op. 9 [lower-alpha 15] | Mass, Requiem | Orchestra, chorus | 1947 |
59 | Jarre, Maurice | Lawrence of Arabia soundtrack [lower-alpha 16] | Soundtrack | Orchestra | 1962 |
58 | Jarre, Maurice | Doctor Zhivago soundtrack [lower-alpha 17] | Soundtrack | Orchestra | 1965 |
57 | Poulenc, Francis | Organ Concerto in G minor | Concerto | Organ, timpani, strings | 1938 |
56 | Debussy, Claude | String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10, L. 85 | String quartet | Strings | 1893 |
55 | Ravel, Maurice | Piano Trio in A minor | Trio | Piano, violin, cello | 1914 |
54 | Ravel, Maurice | Shéhérazade | Song cycle | Orchestra, soprano (or tenor) | 1903 |
53 | Berlioz, Hector | Grande messe des morts , Op. 5 | Mass, Requiem | Orchestra, chorus | 1837 |
52 | Berlioz, Hector | L'enfance du Christ , Op. 25 [lower-alpha 18] | Oratorio | Orchestra, chorus | 1854 |
51 | Messiaen, Olivier | Turangalîla-Symphonie [lower-alpha 19] | Symphony | Orchestra, piano | 1948 |
50 | Ravel, Maurice | Le tombeau de Couperin [lower-alpha 20] | Suite | Orchestra | 1919 |
49 | Debussy, Claude | Nocturnes , L. 91 | Impressionist | Orchestra, chorus (female) | 1899 |
48 | Franck, César | Panis angelicus | Hymn | Orchestra, chorus | 1872 |
47 | Marais, Marin | Sonnerie de Ste-Geneviève du Mont-de-Paris | Chaconne | Viol, violin, harpsichord, basso continuo | 1723 |
46 | Fauré, Gabriel | "Clair de lune", Op. 46, No. 2 | Song | Voice, piano | 1887 |
45 | Berlioz, Hector | Harold en Italie , Op. 16 | Symphony | Orchestra | 1834 |
44 | Berlioz, Hector | Les nuits d'été [lower-alpha 21] | Song cycle | Orchestra, soprano | 1846 |
43 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103 | Concerto | Piano | 1896 |
42 | Franck, César | Symphony in D minor, M. 48 | Symphony | Orchestra | 1888 |
41 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 | Concerto | Piano | 1868 |
40 | Debussy, Claude | Children's Corner , L. 103 | Suite | Piano | 1908 |
39 | Chabrier, Emmanuel | España | Impressionist | Orchestra | 1883 |
38 | Franck, César | Violin Sonata in A major, M. 8 [lower-alpha 22] | Sonata | Violin, piano | 1886 |
37 | Adam, Adolphe | Giselle [lower-alpha 23] | Ballet | Orchestra | 1841 |
36 | Bizet, Georges | Symphony in C major | Symphony | Orchestra | 1855 |
35 | Berlioz, Hector | "La Marseillaise" (arrangement) | Arrangement | Orchestra, chorus | 1830 |
34 | Offenbach, Jacques | Orphée aux enfers [lower-alpha 24] | Operetta | Orchestra, chorus | 1858 |
33 | Gounod, Charles | Ave Maria (on a Bach prelude in C major) | Song | Piano, voice | 1853 |
32 | Gounod, Charles | Faust [lower-alpha 25] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1859 |
31 | Ravel, Maurice | Daphnis et Chloé | Ballet | Orchestra, chorus | 1912 |
30 | Fauré, Gabriel | Cantique de Jean Racine , Op. 11 | Cantata | Orchestra, organ | 1865 |
29 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Samson et Dalila [lower-alpha 26] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1877 |
28 | Delibes, Léo | Coppélia [lower-alpha 27] | Ballet | Orchestra | 1870 |
27 | Bizet, Georges | L'Arlésienne [lower-alpha 28] | Suite | Orchestra | 1872 |
26 | Dukas, Paul | L'apprenti sorcier | Symphonic poem | Orchestra | 1897 |
25 | Adam, Adolphe | "Cantique de Noël" | Carol | Orchestra, chorus | 1847 |
24 | Messiaen, Olivier | Quatuor pour la fin du temps [lower-alpha 29] | Quartet | Clarinet, violin, cello, piano | 1941 |
23 | Fauré, Gabriel | Pavane in F-sharp minor, Op. 50 | Dance | Orchestra, flute | 1887 |
22 | Satie, Erik | Trois Gnossiennes | Dance | Piano | 1890 |
21 | Ravel, Maurice | Piano Concerto in G major | Concerto | Piano | 1931 |
20 | Ravel, Maurice | String Quartet in F major | Quartet | Strings | 1903 |
19 | Widor, Charles-Marie | Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1 [lower-alpha 30] | Symphony | Organ | 1879 |
18 | Debussy, Claude | Préludes, Book 1, L. 117 [lower-alpha 31] | Impressionist | Piano | 1910 |
17 | Offenbach, Jacques | Les contes d'Hoffmann [lower-alpha 32] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1881 |
16 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Danse macabre | Tone poem | Orchestra | 1874 |
15 | Delibes, Léo | Lakmé [lower-alpha 33] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1882 |
14 | Massenet, Jules | Thaïs [lower-alpha 34] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1894 |
13 | Ravel, Maurice | Pavane pour une infante défunte [lower-alpha 35] | Dance | Orchestra | 1910 |
12 | Debussy, Claude | La mer , L. 109 | Impressionist | Orchestra | 1905 |
11 | Debussy, Claude | Suite bergamasque , L. 75 | Suite | Piano | 1905 |
10 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Le carnaval des animaux [lower-alpha 36] | Suite | Orchestra | 1886 |
9 | Ravel, Maurice | Boléro | Dance | Orchestra | 1928 |
8 | Canteloube, Joseph | Chants d'Auvergne [lower-alpha 37] | Songs | Orchestra, soprano | 1930 |
7 | Berlioz, Hector | Symphonie fantastique , Op. 14 | Symphony | Orchestra | 1830 |
6 | Debussy, Claude | Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune , L. 86 | Symphonic Poem | Orchestra | 1894 |
5 | Bizet, Georges | Au fond du temple saint | Aria | Orchestra, tenor, baritone | 1863 |
4 | Satie, Erik | Gymnopédies | Impressionist | Piano | 1890 |
3 | Fauré, Gabriel | Requiem in D minor, Op. 48 | Mass | Orchestra, chorus | 1890 |
2 | Saint-Saëns, Camille | Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 | Symphony | Orchestra, organ | 1886 |
1 | Bizet, Georges | Carmen [lower-alpha 38] | Opera | Orchestra, chorus | 1875 |
For more information about the works broadcast (including performers and recording details), see ABC Classic FM's programming notes:
The following 34 composers featured in the countdown:
Pictures at an Exhibition is a piano suite in ten movements, plus a recurring and varied Promenade theme, written in 1874 by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky. It is a musical depiction of a tour of an exhibition of works by architect and painter Viktor Hartmann put on at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, following his sudden death in the previous year. Each movement of the suite is based on an individual work, some of which are lost.
Robert Russell Bennett was an American composer and arranger, best known for his orchestration of many well-known Broadway and Hollywood musicals by other composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers.
Lucien Denis Gabriel Albéric Magnard was a French composer, sometimes referred to as a "French Bruckner", though there are significant differences between the two composers. Magnard became a national hero in 1914 when he refused to surrender his property to German invaders and died defending it.
The Fair at Sorochyntsi is a comic opera in three acts by Modest Mussorgsky, composed between 1874 and 1880 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The composer wrote the libretto, which is based on Nikolai Gogol's short story of the same name, from his early (1832) collection of Ukrainian stories Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka. The opera remained unfinished and unperformed at Mussorgsky's death in 1881. Today, the completion by Vissarion Shebalin has become the standard.
ABC Classic, formerly ABC-FM, and then ABC Classic FM, is an Australian classical music radio station available in Australia and internationally. Its website features classical music news, features and listening guides. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Jeux d'enfants Op. 22, is a suite of twelve miniatures composed by Georges Bizet for piano four hands in 1871. The entire piece has a duration of about 20 to 23 minutes.
"Au fond du temple saint" is a duet from Georges Bizet's 1863 opera Les pêcheurs de perles. The libretto was written by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré. Generally known as "The Pearl Fishers' Duet", it is one of the most popular numbers in Western opera – it appeared on seven of the Classic 100 Countdowns conducted by ABC Classic FM. It is sung by Nadir (tenor) and Zurga (baritone) in act 1.
Martin Yates is a British conductor. After attending Kimbolton School, he studied at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music, London, where his teachers included Bernard Keeffe (conducting), Richard Arnell (composition), Ian Lake, Jakob Kaletsky and Alan Rowlands (piano), and Douglas Moore and John Burden.
Gabriel von Wayditch was a Hungarian-American composer whose output consisted primarily of 14 grand operas. The son of Dr. Aloysious (Lajos) von Wayditch von Verbovac (Verbovác), a nobleman and inventor who had taught physics at the University of Pécs, and Helena von Dönhoff, a Prussian baroness, who was according to familytrees related to the ancient magyar Árpád dynasti. Gabriel was born in Budapest. He studied piano, conducting, and composition at the National Hungarian Academy of Music where his teachers included Franz Liszt's pupil Emil von Sauer and Hans von Koessler, who was also the teacher of composers Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály, Ernő Dohnányi, and Emmerich Kálmán.
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Alexander Alexandrovich Ilyinsky was a Russian music teacher and composer, best known for the Lullaby (Berceuse), Op. 13, No. 7, from his orchestral suite "Noure and Anitra", and for the opera The Fountain of Bakhchisaray set to Pushkin's poem of the same name.
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Elegia, Op. 4/1, is a composition for string orchestra by the Finnish composer Leevi Madetoja, who wrote the piece in 1909 during his student years. On 10 January 1910, Robert Kajanus, chief conductor of the Helsinki Orchestral Society, premiered the Elegia to great acclaim, with the piece described as the "first master work" of a budding "natural orchestral composer". Madetoja subsequently designated the Elegia as the first number in his four-movement Sinfoninen sarja, Op. 4, which the Helsinki Orchestral Society performed in its entirety under the composer's baton on 26 September 1910. The suite's three other numbers are virtually unknown, and the Elegia typically is performed as a stand-alone concert piece. Stylistically reminiscent of Tchaikovsky, it is, to date, Madetoja's most recorded and well-known orchestral composition, as well as the most enduringly popular of his many miniatures.
The Shylock Suite, Op. 57 is a six-movement work by Gabriel Fauré, first performed in 1890. In addition to four purely orchestral movements it includes two serenades for solo tenor with orchestral accompaniment. The composer constructed the suite from incidental music he had written the previous year for Edmond Haraucourt's play Shylock, an adaptation of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, presented at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in Paris. The theatre music had been written for a small orchestra, and Fauré greatly expanded the orchestration for the concert suite.