Overview

Four French composers of exceptional notoriety. Daniel-Lesur, Albert Rouseel, Henri Tomasi and Henri Tomasi, composers dating from early in the 20th century. Their clear talent and adopted styles took them well into the century. This collection brings together four distinctive voices of 20th‑century French music, each offering a unique perspective on orchestral color and form. Jean‑Yves Daniel‑Lesur’s Andrea del Sarto reveals his refined harmonic language, while Albert Roussel’s Suite in F showcases his rhythmic vitality and neoclassical clarity. Henri Tomasi’s Fanfares Liturgiques and Marius Constant’s Three Essays for Orchestra add dramatic contrast, expanding the program’s expressive range. Louis de Froment leads the Luxembourg Radio Orchestra in performances that illuminate the individuality and craftsmanship of each composer.

This album highlights the remarkable diversity of French orchestral writing in the first half of the 20th century. Jean‑Yves Daniel‑Lesur’s Andrea del Sarto reflects the composer’s lyrical sensibility and his connection to the spiritual and artistic ideals of La Jeune France. Albert Roussel’s Suite in F, by contrast, is rooted in rhythmic drive and structural clarity, demonstrating the composer’s mature neoclassical style.

Henri Tomasi’s Fanfares Liturgiques brings a bold, ceremonial character to the program, blending modern harmonic language with a sense of ritualistic drama. Marius Constant’s Three Essays for Orchestra further expands the sonic palette, offering sharply etched textures and expressive contrasts that reveal his innovative approach to orchestral writing.

Under the direction of Louis de Froment, the Luxembourg Radio Orchestra delivers performances of precision, color, and stylistic insight, making this release an essential document of mid‑century French symphonic repertoire.