The Allmusic Blog » Binge Listening: Henri Duparc

Binge Listening: Henri Duparc

October 28th, 2008 | 7:45 am est | Blair Sanderson

If Henri Duparc (January 21, 1848 - February 12, 1933) is a little unfamiliar to casual classical listeners, then it probably has less to do with neglect from performers or being forgotten by the public than with the diminutive size of his oeuvre. Duparc’s masterful chansons are cherished by singers around the world and frequently performed in recitals of French vocal music. But the extremely self-critical Duparc destroyed all of his early works, revised the mature pieces he deemed acceptable, and stopped composing in 1885 at the age of 36. He spent the rest of his long life coping with neurasthenia, various pains and ailments, and ultimately, blindness and paralysis — reasons enough not to pick up a pen again. However, his exquisite songs, a lush tone poem entitled Lénore, a moody Sonata for cello and piano, and a few other inventive works give ample evidence of his talents and potential for greatness, and he is held in high repute despite his limited output.

Below are some representative samples of Henri Duparc’s passionate late Romantic works…almost all of ‘em!