Albéric Magnard was a noteworthy French composer who emerged from the late Romantic period, leaving a profound albeit not widely recognized mark on the classical music landscape. Born on June 9, 1865, in Paris, Magnard was the son of Francis Magnard, a director of the French newspaper Le Figaro. Despite his affluent upbringing, he pursued music with an independent spirit and integrity that characterized both his life and his compositions. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, initially under the tutelage of notable composer and organist César Franck, and later with Vincent d'Indy and Jules Massenet.

Blending the rich harmonic language of the late Romantic era with formal rigor and expressive intensity, Magnard's compositional voice was singular. His oeuvre, though modest in quantity, includes four symphonies, chamber works, operas, and various pieces for piano and voice, each imbued with deep emotional resonance and structural finesse. His music has often been compared to that of his contemporaries, such as Gabriel Fauré and Claude Debussy, yet it maintains a distinct gravitas and complexity. His life met a tragic end during World War I when, defending his property from German soldiers, he died in the fire that consumed his house, leading to the destruction of several unpublished works. Despite his music being underperformed in the years following his death on September 3, 1914, Albéric Magnard has experienced a resurgence of interest in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, as recordings of his symphonies and chamber music have begun to reveal the compelling beauty and unique voice of this unduly neglected composer.

Genres

Early Modern Classical

French Romanticism

Post-romantic Era

Latest Release

Magnard: Cello Sonata, Op. 20, Piano Trio, Op. 18

Albéric Magnard

Album - 7 Tracks - Released March 29, 2024