Goldschmidt, Berthold: Deux nocturnes (1995-6) 8'
Dramatic arias for soprano and orchestra

Music Text  
Pierre le Moyne/Tristan Corbiere (F)

Scoring
2(II=picc).2(II=corA).1.bcl.2(II=dbn)-4.3.0.0-timp.perc(2):xyl/glsp/ susp.cym/SD/TD/tam-t-harp-strings

World Premiere
8/26/1998
Royal Albert Hall, London
Rosemary Hardy, soprano / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Jiri Belohlavek


Repertoire Note  


These two settings of French texts for soprano and orchestra were Goldschmidt final compositions. The first, Judith by Pierre le Moyne (1602-71), describes the Jewish woman who wreaks vengeance on her Assyrian captor Holofernes by creeping into his tent at night and cutting off his head with a sword. The second, Rondel, sets a poem by Tristan Corbiere (1845-75), a highly unconventional writer who spent his life in complete obscurity in Brittany and was posthumously discovered by Verlaine. Together, these ‘dramatic arias’ form a moving and fitting close to Goldschmidt’s compositional career with an economy of expression, line and gesture characteristic of his late style.  Each aria may be performed separately if desired.