Informationen zu "Giuseppe Verdi Arr: Bernard Salles Traviata Sinfonia Double Bass Quartet"
Verlag: Recital Music
Verlagsnummer: RM875
EAN: 9790570458752
ISMN: M-57045-875-2
Beschreibung
Bernard Salles writes: ' I wrote this arrangement of Verdi's famous opera 'La
Traviata' for the double bassists of La Scala, Milan. In 2014 they gave a
concert on the stage of this famous opera house, and played my transcription
for double bass ensemble of Bizet's opera 'Carmen'. As they were looking for
more music for double bass ensemble based around Italian opera, it was not
difficult for me to choose one of Verdi's most beautiful operas as my next
project. The literal translation of 'traviata' is 'to be led astray',
'perverted' or 'skewed'. Violetta does not follow the 'right' path in the
eyes of society, she doesn't fit the rules and lives as she wants to. But she
is a woman who, for the love of Alfredo, is ready to give up this life.
Unfortunately, Germont, Alfredo's father, doesn't understand this and
concocts a plan to force Violetta to forget the man she loves, whilst making
Alfonso believe that Violetta left him. Already suffering from tuberculosis,
the illness now takes a full hold over Violetta. A month later, Alfredo
learns that Violetta never stopped loving him and that she sacrificed himself
to save his reputation. Overwhelmed with remorse, he runs to her bedside but
it is too late. Violetta dies in his arms. Verdi's opera is a true chef
d'oeuvre, despite the fiasco of its premiere (mostly due to the prima donna
who was a little too plump to be credible!). The subject matter disturbed the
audience and was ahead of its time, prefiguring Puccini's great operas and
the Italian verismo movement. The opera is filled with the most stunning
arias, from the joyful to the tragic: the entire scope of human passion is
represented in music. It was difficult to choose from so many masterpieces!
The title I chose is in fact a little ironic: 'Traviata Sinfonia' can also be
translated as 'skewed symphony' - just right for a piece which transforms bel
canto into double bass ensemble. I selected eleven arias, transposing them so
they can be played more easily on the double bass. With the exception of the
last piece, they follow the chronological order of the opera, and I hope they
precis the story fairly well.' [Translated from French by Eleanor Martindale]
Bernard Salles was born in 1954 and began his musical education in his home
town of Perpignan (France) where he studied double bass, organ, composition
and orchestral conducting at the Conservatoire. In 1973 he want to the
Conservatoire of Versailles and in 1976, at the age of 22, he was awarded a
double bass teaching diploma. Since then he has taught at the Conservatoire
of Pau (South-west France) and played with many major French orchestras
including the Orchestre de Paris and the National Orchestra of France, under
the direction of conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Zubin
Metha and Lorin Maazel. In 1983 he began a parallel career as a conductor
and was Music Director of the Orchestra of Pau from 1996-2001. He has
directed the Orchestra of Pamplona (Spain) and is currently Music Director of
the OSSO (Orchestre Symphonique du Sud-Ouest). As a composer and member of
SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Editors of Music), he has written
over 30 works including two symphonies, a cantata, a psalm for bass and
orchestra, a concerto for double bass and small orchestra, Rhapsody for viola
and orchestra, Triptych for orchestra, Prelude for cello and orchestra, a
symphonic poem for soprano, cello and orchestra, as well as works for chamber
groups, and for choir and organ. His pedagogic works are published by
G.Billaudot in Paris and his works for double bass are published by Recital
Music (England). In 2010 he began a series of short pieces for unaccompanied
double bass - Portraits for Friends - dedicated to his double bass playing
friends.
