The composition studio is pleased to welcome lecture-recitalist Alexa Stier, presenting French piano music of the long twentieth century. In the mid-nineteenth century, the classical music scene was dominated by Germans. Today, France is firmly recognized as a center of musical activity and innovation. The French keyboard music of the "long twentieth century" — a period of time stemming from the late 1800s to today — represents a microcosm of the era's most important artistic currents. This lecture recital journeys from the often-controversial label of impressionism to the school of spectralism and beyond: it takes off with the music of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, samples from Olivier Messiaen’s tremendous output for the piano, and follows his influence on the works of the following generation of composers, such as Maurice Ohana, Henri Dutilleux, and Tristan Murail. The artistic trends changed through the course of the century, yet one distinctly French aesthetic remained: the idea that music ought to be, at its core, a pleasurable experience. In each of the featured works, the composer prioritizes sound and color to create a hedonistic listening experience which sets it apart from the music of other nations. To quote Debussy: in music, “pleasure is the law.”
Program selections include the following.
- Olivier Messiaen: Cantéyodjayâ (1949)
- Henri Dutilleux: Piano Sonata (1948), I. Allegro con moto
- Maurice Ohana: Selections from 24 Préludes pour le piano (1972)
- Tristan Murail: La Mandragore (1993)
- Michaël Levinas: Synérèse (2023)
- Philippe Manoury: Réseaux (2021)
This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required.
Livestream broadcast begins at 5:30 p.m.
A digital program link will be provided prior to the event.
All events are subject to change.
Getting Here
Park in the Arps Garage (open to visitors M–F after 4 p.m. and on weekends) just North of the Timashev Music building.
The Timashev Recital Hall is located on the ground floor, at the far north end of the building.