27, 28, 29 September 2018
Arthur Honegger
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher
The Netherlands
The Netherlands
The Netherlands
Stéphane Denève and French music
Considered a leading authority on French music, Stéphane Denève often makes exciting repertoire choices. A work which has not been performed in the Netherlands for a very long time, Arthur Honegger's Jeanne d'Arc is most certainly that.
Arthur Honegger's Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher
Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher is one of the most inventive oratorios ever composed, constantly flitting between styles and colours. This is grist to conductor Stéphane Denève's mill, who is now a regular guest with the Concertgebouworkest.
Despite their often tragic overtones, Honegger's compositions are a sensation for audiences and musicians alike. His striking blend of Bach influences, French atmosphere and jazz effects reflects the turbulence of the 1920s and 30s, a time when progressive thought and fatalism were closely connected.
Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher follows the historic French heroine in the hours leading up to her execution. Indeed, the run-up to her death sentence is reconstructed as if in a crime novel. Paul Claudel's lively libretto contrasts Jeanne with an assorted lot of strange and wonderful characters. More than enough reason for Honegger to open up a colourful paintbox: the work features a succession of choral passages infused with spirituality, cubist-like blocks of sound and even bits of material reminiscent of the music hall.
Donation
We are grateful for the support of the Freundeskreis Schweiz (Swiss friends association of the Concertgebouworkest). This concert production was made possible by their substantial gift.