Mathieu - Symphonie Romantique (Concerto de Québec) - Part 2/3

Symphonie Romantique, for piano & orchestra (Concerto de Québec)

I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante
III. Allegro con brio

Compsoer: André Mathieu (1929-1968)
Performers: Philippe Entremont (piano) & Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse
Conductor: Michel Plasson

Mathieu's father Rudolphe Mathieu was a music teacher and composer, and his mother Wilhemine Gagnon-Mathieu was a cellist and teacher. Mathieu was fascinated by the world of music from an early age, and received his first music lessons from his father. Mathieu as a child was unusually precocious.

Rudolphe Mathieu was at first reluctant to teach his son music, and forbade him to touch the piano. This is because the senior Mathieu regarded music as a pauper's profession. Even so, Rudolphe Mathieu resigned himself to teaching his son music, because he recognized the exceptional talent in Mathieu. Mathieu began composing at the age of 4. At age 6 Mathieu gave his first recital of his own composition at the Ritz Carleton Hotel in Montréal, Canada on February 25, 1935. In 1936 Mathieu performed his Concertino No.1 for Piano and Orchestra as a soloist on the CBC network. He was later given a grant by the Québec government that enabled him to go to Paris and study piano with Yves Nat and Mme. Giraud-Latarse. Mathieu also studied harmony and composition with Jacques de la Presle. In December 1936 Mathieu gave a recital of his works at Salle Chopin-Pleyel, and again at Salle Gaveau on March 26, 1939. His recitals were received very enthusiastically by the Parisian critics. They unanimously agreed that André Mathieu was a "little Canadian Mozart". Rachmaninov pronounced him, "a genius, more so than I am".

Mathieu returned to Montréal for the holidays, but due to the outbreak of war he could not return to Europe. Instead, Mathieu performed in a series of recitals in Canada and the United States of America, and gave a remarkable performance at the New York City Town Hall on February 3, 1940. He remained in New York with his family until 1943, studying composition with Harold Morris and fulfilling concert and radio engagements. In 1941 when he was not yet 12 years old, Mathieu won the first prize at the composition competition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He also played his Concertino No. 2 for piano and orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Mathieu also played his compositions at a concert of the League of Composers.

In 1946 he left Montréal for Paris to study composition with Arthur Honegger and piano with Jules Gentil. Unfortunately the trip did not go as planned. Mathieu was disappointed by his teachers, bored and short of money. He felt lonely, homesick and vulnerable. In 1947 he returned to Montréal a changed man, tired and exhausted. He took part in Pianothons to break records at events. He also began teaching and continued to compose. During the following years he succumbed to alcoholism. He married Marie-Ange Massicotte in 1960, but their marriage was short-lived due to Andrés alcoholism and emotional problems. André died suddenly at the age of 39 on June 2, 1968. He was a prolific composer and left behind a wide range of music full of feeling.

In 1976 both the welcoming song and official theme-music of the Montreal Olympics were arranged from excerpts of works by André Mathieu. The André-Mathieu Club was founded in 1942 at Trois-Rivières by Mme Anaïs Allard-Rousseau to promote an interest in music among youth in the community. The club eventually became part of the Youth and Music Canada (YMC) or Jeunesses musicales du Canada (JMC). In 1978 the Salle André-Mathieu opened in Laval, Quebec as a dedication to Mathieu's talents and contributions. In 1987 a street was named after Mathieu in the Pointe-aux-Trembles district in Montreal.

As a composer Mathieu's style leaned towards the late Romantic school of Rachmaninov, and his music was influenced by Debussy as well. Mathieu wrote many works for piano.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Mathieu

Category:

Music

Tags:

• André
• Mathieu
• Symphonie
• Romantique
• Concerto
• de
• Québec

[emilygclarinet]

Thanks for posting this! I love this composer.

[imusiciki]

Your welcome emilygclarinet!

[ZappaZep]

Une des plus grandes hontes de ce pays c'est d'avoir tuer cet homme. Par le mépris du Génie et l'étroitesse d'esprit des "élites" (de la lie de l'humanité, oui) religieuse.

Cet homme est presque l'une des preuves de l'existence d'un Dieu et il meurt dans l'oubli et la misère.

Quel honte.

Merci à Alain Lefèvre pour son combat contre l'ignorance crasse.

[Markooo1986]

Every one has to know him. Please tell your friends ... thx

[elenmarym]

pour tous les amoureux de piano et tous les romantiques!!!! fantastique!!!!

[raxkar]

@ZappaZep C'est drôle, selon son père, il était la preuve de la non-existence de Dieu parceque l'homme pouvait atteindre le "divin".

[ve2so]

On aurait pu le sauver en l'aidant à combattre son alcoolisme mais personne n'était intéressé. Ils ont tourné un bon fils sur lui, qui passe actuellement à Super Ecran. .

Nous avons eu un deuxième André Mathieu, Denis Asselin, il a composé également mais sa carrière n'a pas été loin, il est professeur de musique, je crois qu'il vit encore.

[Genny1295]

Wow! La musique est tellement emportante on voit vraiment toute sa virtuosité a travers cette œuvre. Incroyable la façon dont il est mort.Dans l'oubli total.Si jeune et pourtant si vieux dans l'esprit de tous.Dommage... il avait si bien commencé sa carrière...

[JCHBONNET]

This is superb ! Certainly one of the most beautiful piano concerto of the post romantic repertoire.

[HiggsPat]

Let's not forget most of his works were done in a really short amount of time. He was between 8 and 10 yr old when he compose and perform this. At a celeb piano competition he finish first where great pianist like bernstein finish 26.Also at he end of the competition Master Rachmaninov declare that only Mathieu could rightfully suceed in his steps and brings the music and genre to new heights. Also Albert Einstein said that he was the Genius among the genius.The mozart of quebec.

[GJGJ654]

but more famous at his dead ......... he remain not enouf famous of course

[symphonie19]

Beautifull mélody