Théodore Gouvy
About the composer
Théodore Gouvy (1819-1896) was born in the Lorraine area of France, which was then part of Germany. However, he applied for French nationality as early as 1834. It wasn’t until 1851 that his naturalization to French nationality was officially granted.
In his later years, Gouvy resided alternately in Paris and the German Saar area. He had the opportunity to know and befriend composers such as Lalo, Gounod, and Saint-Saëns. Gouvy’s compositional output consisted of approximately 160 works, including symphonies, several masses, and a requiem. Although an opera he composed was unsuccessful, he subsequently focused on a number of dramatic cantatas.
One reason for Gouvy’s current state of near-obscurity may be attributed to his position as a resident of a border region that experienced frequent territorial transfers between France and Germany. Consequently, he did not truly belong to either country, which may have contributed to his relative lack of recognition today.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 1875 |
| Performers: | Soprano, alto, tenor, choir and orchestra |
| Length: | 45.26 minutes |
| Particulars: | The composition is in seven sections, varying from 1 to 5 stanzas. Compared to many other Stabat Maters the orchestra plays an important part. The love of the composer for dramatic scenes is clearly heard. It does remind you of the young Verdi, notwithstanding the opening fugue and the grand fugue that ends the work. |
| Textual variations: | The "Analecta"-text is used, with as only change: - Stanza 16, line 2: not "Passionis eius sortem" but "Passionis fac consortem" |
| Colour bar: |
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Information about the recording
| CD1: | K.617 067: Mémoire musical de la Lorraine: Théodore Gouvy |
| More info: | The CD is devoted to the musical heritage of the Lorraine region, in this case focused on the composer Gouvy. |
| Orchestra: | La Philharmonie de Lorraine |
| Choir: | Evangelische Kantorei Saar-Louis + Choeur d'Hommes de Hombourg-Haut |
| Conductor: | Olivier Holt |
| Soloists: | Inva Mula, soprano |
| Other works: | Gouvy: Cantate Egill |
| Code: | GOU-01 |
| CD2: | Théodore Gouvy, Stabat Mater, opus 65 |
| More info: | This very special CD (it looks like a cigar box!) has been recorded in honor of the “Year of Gouvy”. The box contains pieces of the score, pictures of Gouvy and copies of newspaper clippings about his burial. It was clearly meant to be given as a present and is not for sale. |
| Orchestra: | Randstedelijk Begeleidingsorkest |
| Choir: | Christelijke Oratorium Vereniging Ex Animo |
| Conductor: | Wim de Ru |
| Soloists: | Diane Verdoodt, soprano |
| Other works: | Gouvy: Symphony nr.6 in g, opus 87 |
| Code: | 1998 GOU-02 |
