Florent Schmitt: a work tragically overlooked

Florent Schmitt is one of those composers whose political preferences and statements have worked against his work. This is rather unfair, given his stature in 20th century music. For lots of experts, just to give an example, Stravinsky’s Le sacre du printemps could not have existed without the precedent of Schmitt’s music.

Nonetheless, there seems to be a revival of sorts that hopefully brings justice to his artistic contributions. One proof of that is Alain Altinoglu’s recent recording of La tragédie de Salomé alongside the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Altinoglu decided to record the original composition that lasts roughly over an hour and comprises a delightful series of traits that makes this work a remarkable treat.

This album is eloquent in terms of the colorful offer of sounds that Schmitt was able to craft. The score is definitely sensuous and rich in oriental melodies and Altinoglu has been smart enough to exploit that nature in proficient musical terms. 

The result comes off as a new opportunity to delve into Schmitt’s neglected work and appreciate his legacy as an authentic testament to talent, originality and rebelliousness. Trust me, once you get into this world, you’ll definitely want more.