Henri Tomasi was one of the great figures of 20th-century French music, and his catalogue of more than one hundred works features many splendid stage and concert scores. In 1927, after distinguishing himself at the Paris Conservatory, he simultaneously obtained a unanimous First Prize for conducting and a Grand Prix de Rome for composition, which launched his successful double-role career.
Although some of Henri Tomasi’s works are internationally renowned, those for violin are largely unknown today. This first recording of his complete works for the instrument, however, clearly attests to their quality and significance.
Henri TOMASI (1901–1971)
Complete Violin Works
Violin Concerto ‘Périple d’Ulysse’ • Capriccio
Stéphanie Moraly, Violin • Romain David, PianoOrchestre de la Garde républicaine • Sébastien Billard
Henri Tomasi’s violin works are little known but they offer a compact insight into the direction of French 20th-century composition. The Violin Concerto ‘Périple d’Ulysse’ is a late work, by turns alluring, tragic and violent, conveyed through rhapsodic virtuosity and a rich sense of colour. The Capriccio is full of elegance and refinement with emotional intensity in its slow movement and brilliance in its finale. Chant hébraïque conjures up oriental motifs while the sequence of early works for violin and piano reference Tomasi’s Corsican heritage and evoke quasi-cinematic exoticism.
III. Andante
Symphony No. 1
Métaboles • Les Citations
Ciabaud • Tomczak-Feltrin • Petit • Robine • Orchestre National de Lille • Casadesus
– The Arts Desk
Symphony No. 2 ‘Le Double’
Timbres, espace, mouvement • Mystère de l’instant
Orchestre National de Lille • Ang
– MusicWeb International
Les Biches – Suite
Les Animaux modèles – Suite • Sinfonietta
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra • Tingaud
– ClassicsToday.com
Complete Chamber Music
Various artists
– Gramophone
Turangalîla Symphony
L’ascension
Weigel • Bloch • Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra • Wit
– ClassicsToday.com
Trois Mélodies • Harawi
Bruun • Hyldig
– MusicWeb International