Composer

:

John Adams

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1993

Average_duration

:

23:04

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Le Livre de Baudelaire is a song cycle composed by John Adams in 1991. The piece was premiered on October 10, 1993, by the soprano Dawn Upshaw and the Orchestra of St. Luke's, conducted by David Zinman, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The cycle consists of six movements, each based on a poem by Charles Baudelaire, a French poet of the 19th century. The poems are taken from Baudelaire's collection Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil), which was controversial at the time of its publication due to its themes of decadence, eroticism, and death. The first movement, "Le balcon" (The Balcony), is a sensual and dreamy piece that evokes the image of a woman on a balcony. The second movement, "Harmonie du soir" (Evening Harmony), is a melancholic and introspective piece that reflects on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The third movement, "Le jet d'eau" (The Fountain), is a lively and playful piece that describes the movement of water in a fountain. The fourth movement, "Recueillement" (Meditation), is a slow and contemplative piece that reflects on the beauty of nature and the power of art. The fifth movement, "La mort des amants" (The Death of the Lovers), is a dramatic and intense piece that describes the death of two lovers. The final movement, "L'albatros" (The Albatross), is a light and humorous piece that compares the poet to an albatross, a bird that is awkward on land but graceful in flight. Overall, Le Livre de Baudelaire is a complex and evocative work that showcases Adams' skill as a composer. The piece combines elements of classical music with contemporary techniques, creating a unique and compelling sound. The cycle is also notable for its use of vocal techniques, such as sprechstimme (a style of singing that is halfway between speaking and singing) and extended vocal techniques, which add to the expressive power of the work.

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