Overview

Darius Milhaud’s Symphony No. 8 “Rhodanienne,” composed in 1957, is one of the composer’s most evocative orchestral works — a musical journey along the Rhône, rich with shifting textures, polytonal harmonies, and Milhaud’s unmistakable melodic warmth. The Suite Provençale, drawn from folk melodies of southern France, is a celebration of color and rhythm, its eight movements unfolding with charm, wit, and irresistible energy.

Arthur Honegger’s Symphony No. 3 “Liturgique” provides a powerful counterbalance. Written in the aftermath of World War II, the symphony is structured around three movements — “Dies irae,” “De profundis clamavi,” and “Dona nobis pacem” — each reflecting the composer’s deep spiritual and emotional response to the era’s turmoil. Louis de Froment and the Luxembourg Radio Orchestra deliver performances of remarkable precision and expressive depth, capturing both the brilliance of Milhaud’s orchestral palette and the gravitas of Honegger’s symphonic vision.

This album stands as a vital document of mid‑century French orchestral music, restored here with renewed clarity and presence.