Arthur Lavandier
French composer born 1 May 1987 in Clamart.
Arthur Lavandier was awarded first prize for composition from the École Normale de Musique de Paris and for writing and orchestration from the Conservatoire de Paris.
Initially an orchestrator, he has collaborated with the orchestra Le Balcon regularly since its creation in 2008 and with its musical director, Maxime Pascal. It was with Le Balcon that he first began composing. The orchestra has commissioned and premiered much of his catalogue. Also interested in cinema, Lavandier co-wrote the music for Hélène Giraud and Thomas Szabo’s 2013 feature-length animation Minuscule – La vallée des fourmis perdues (Minuscule – The Valley of Lost Ants). He has been composer-in-residence at the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris since 2017, with whom he created the arrangement of Hector Berlioz’s Mélodies Irlandaises (Irish Melodies) and more recently Le Périple d’Hannon (Hannon’s Journey) for tenor and orchestra, based on the only Carthaginian text to have survived the ransacking of the city.
Lavandier is particularly interested in text and mise en scène and is a fan of German musical theater. A significant part of his catalog is for voice with instruments. He regularly calls upon Federico Flamminio and Frédéric Boyer as librettists, as was the case with firstly Les fureurs héroïques (The Heroic Fury, 2012) and then Poèmes spirites (Spiritual Poems, 2018). These authors have also participated in the five operas already put to music by Lavandier, most in collaboration with Le Balcon. He has written for young audiences with his most recent operas, including La Légende du Roi dragon (The Legend of the Dragon King, 2018), L’Abrégé des Merveilles de Marco Polo (Marco Polo’s Compendium of Wonders), which was premiered at the Opéra de Rouen in 2020, and Au cœur de l’océan (At the Heart of the Ocean, 2021). He has also arranged pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Debussy, Hector Berlioz, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Gustav Mahler, among others.
In 2012, Lavandier was finalist for the 2012 Queen Elisabeth Competition for composition and winner of the 2014 Prix Swiss Life à 4 mains, in tandem with photographer Julien Taylor for Bobba, the chamber opera they produced together. He was also winner of the 2016 Prix d’encouragement à de jeunes artistes from the Académie des Beaux-Arts and received the 2017 SACD New Talent in Music Prize.
In June 2019, he participated in Le Balcon’s production of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Samstag aus Licht (Saturday from Light, 1981-1983) for ManiFeste, by interpreting taste, one of the six mortal senses from scene 2, Kathinkas Gesang als Lucifers Requiem (Kathinka’s Song as Lucifer’s Requiem).
His free adaptation of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique was the first disc recorded by Le Balcon’s label.
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2021
Sources
France Musique ; Le Balcon
- Solo (excluding voice)
- Le Livre 1 for solo piano (2012), 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Le Livre 2 for solo piano (2013), 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prière à la nuit for solo horn (2017), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- At dusk / Seuls devant le rien for viola da gamba (2019), 2 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Deux pièces courtes for viola da gamba (2019), Belle Symphonie
- Of stone and steel for viola da gamba (2019), 2 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Résurrection music for dance solo for flautist (2019), 55 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Chamber music
- Les six ministres de l'Apocalypse for 6 professional instrumentalists playing the viola for the first time (2010), 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 1 (deuxième livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet (2018), 7 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 22 (premier livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet (2018), 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 5 (deuxième livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet (2018), 8 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 5 (premier livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet (2018), 8 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude for viola da gamba and electric guitar (2019), 2 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Poisson d'or - C. Debussy arrangement for orchestra (2009), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune - C. Debussy arrangement for 12 instruments (2010), 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Shéhérazade - N. Rimski-Korsakov arrangement for 15 instruments (2012), 45 mn, Belle Symphonie
- elec Symphonie fantastique - H. Berlioz arrangement for 18 instruments and guest wind ensemble (2013), 45 mn, Belle Symphonie
- L'étoile percée Breton bagad (2019), 20 mn
- La danse des arbres Breton bagad (2019), 20 mn
- La victoire du cœur au lac Breton bagad (2019), 20 mn
- Concertant music
- Klarwein's eyes for solo bass trombone and six instruments (2008), 10 mn
- Concerto pour piano et orchestre (2012), 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Symphonie concertante - W. A. Mozart arrangement for solo violin and viola and string quintet (2018), 15 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 12 variations sur "12 variations sur Ah vous dirai-je maman" de Mozart for string sextet and piano (2019), 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- Et voilà c'est la fin du monde for narrator, solo bass trombone and nine instruments (2009), 10 mn
- stage De la terreur des hommes for five singers and thirteen instruments (2011), 1 h 30 mn
- La Chanson des sangliers music for young pupils, for choir and thirteen instruments (2013), Belle Symphonie
- Mir ist so wunderbar - L. van Beethoven arrangement for four singers, string quartets and piano (2013), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Quatre chansons napolitaines arranged for voice and five instruments (2013), Belle Symphonie
- Rückert Lieder - G. Mahler arrangement for voice, string quartet and piano (2013), 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Ah ! Non credea mirarti... - V. Bellini arrangement for voice and nine instruments (2014), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Bobba for a singer and four instruments (2014), 60 mn
- Credete al mio dolor - G.F. Haendel arrangement for voice and eleven instruments (2014), 8 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Dans un bois solitaire - W.A. Mozart arrangement for voice and ten instruments (2014), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Frühlingsmorgen - G. Mahler arrangement for voice and nine instruments (2014), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen - G. Mahler arrangement for voice and nine instruments (2014), 9 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Les Litanies de Satan for soprano and piano (2014), 5 mn
- Nuit d'étoiles - C. Debussy arrangement for voice and nine instruments (2014), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Una voce poco fa - G. Rossini arrangement for voice and nine instruments (2014), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Volver - C. Gardel arrangement for voice and eleven instruments (2014), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Escorbuto for tenor and orchestra (2015), 5 mn, Belle Symphonie
- stage Le premier meurtre opera in four acts for seven singers, twelve solo instruments and orchestra (2016), 1 h 30 mn, Belle Symphonie
- A Vucchela - P. Tosti arrangement for tenor and five instruments (2017), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Funiculi Funicula - L. Denza arrangement for tenor and five instruments (2017), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Marechiare - F.P. Tosti arrangement for tenor and three instruments (2017), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Mélodies irlandaises - H. Berlioz arrangement for voice and orchestra (2017), 40 mn, Belle Symphonie
- O Sole Mio - E. di Capua arrangement for tenor and five instruments (2017), 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- stage La légende du Roi Dragon for five singers, children's choir and orchestra (2018), 1 h 15 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Le Périple d'Hannon for tenor and orchestra (2018), 24 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Poèmes spirites six melodies for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2018), 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- stage L'abrégé des merveilles de Marco Polo for four singers, one narrator, children's choir and orchestra (2019), 60 mn
- Le chant des accusées six melodies for soprano and piano (2019), 15 mn, Belle Symphonie
- stage Les Noces, variations for five singers, children's choir and orchestra (2019), 60 mn
- stage Au cœur de l'océan for six performers and orchestra (2021)
- A cappella vocal music
- Les fureurs héroïques for mixed choir (2012), 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2021
- stage Au cœur de l'océan for six performers and orchestra
- 2019
- 12 variations sur "12 variations sur Ah vous dirai-je maman" de Mozart for string sextet and piano, 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- At dusk / Seuls devant le rien for viola da gamba, 2 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Deux pièces courtes for viola da gamba, Belle Symphonie
- stage L'abrégé des merveilles de Marco Polo for four singers, one narrator, children's choir and orchestra, 60 mn
- L'étoile percée Breton bagad, 20 mn
- La danse des arbres Breton bagad, 20 mn
- La victoire du cœur au lac Breton bagad, 20 mn
- Le chant des accusées six melodies for soprano and piano, 15 mn, Belle Symphonie
- stage Les Noces, variations for five singers, children's choir and orchestra, 60 mn
- Of stone and steel for viola da gamba, 2 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude for viola da gamba and electric guitar, 2 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Résurrection music for dance solo for flautist, 55 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2018
- stage La légende du Roi Dragon for five singers, children's choir and orchestra, 1 h 15 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Le Périple d'Hannon for tenor and orchestra, 24 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Poèmes spirites six melodies for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 1 (deuxième livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet, 7 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 22 (premier livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet, 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 5 (deuxième livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet, 8 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude et fugue 5 (premier livre) - J.S. Bach arrangement for string quartet, 8 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Symphonie concertante - W. A. Mozart arrangement for solo violin and viola and string quintet, 15 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2017
- A Vucchela - P. Tosti arrangement for tenor and five instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Funiculi Funicula - L. Denza arrangement for tenor and five instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Marechiare - F.P. Tosti arrangement for tenor and three instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Mélodies irlandaises - H. Berlioz arrangement for voice and orchestra, 40 mn, Belle Symphonie
- O Sole Mio - E. di Capua arrangement for tenor and five instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prière à la nuit for solo horn, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2016
- stage Le premier meurtre opera in four acts for seven singers, twelve solo instruments and orchestra, 1 h 30 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2015
- Escorbuto for tenor and orchestra, 5 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2014
- Ah ! Non credea mirarti... - V. Bellini arrangement for voice and nine instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Bobba for a singer and four instruments, 60 mn
- Credete al mio dolor - G.F. Haendel arrangement for voice and eleven instruments, 8 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Dans un bois solitaire - W.A. Mozart arrangement for voice and ten instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Frühlingsmorgen - G. Mahler arrangement for voice and nine instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen - G. Mahler arrangement for voice and nine instruments, 9 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Les Litanies de Satan for soprano and piano, 5 mn
- Nuit d'étoiles - C. Debussy arrangement for voice and nine instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Una voce poco fa - G. Rossini arrangement for voice and nine instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Volver - C. Gardel arrangement for voice and eleven instruments, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2013
- La Chanson des sangliers music for young pupils, for choir and thirteen instruments, Belle Symphonie
- Le Livre 2 for solo piano, 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Mir ist so wunderbar - L. van Beethoven arrangement for four singers, string quartets and piano, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Quatre chansons napolitaines arranged for voice and five instruments, Belle Symphonie
- Rückert Lieder - G. Mahler arrangement for voice, string quartet and piano, 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- elec Symphonie fantastique - H. Berlioz arrangement for 18 instruments and guest wind ensemble, 45 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2012
- Concerto pour piano et orchestre, 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Le Livre 1 for solo piano, 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Les fureurs héroïques for mixed choir, 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Shéhérazade - N. Rimski-Korsakov arrangement for 15 instruments, 45 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2011
- stage De la terreur des hommes for five singers and thirteen instruments, 1 h 30 mn
- 2010
- Les six ministres de l'Apocalypse for 6 professional instrumentalists playing the viola for the first time, 20 mn, Belle Symphonie
- Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune - C. Debussy arrangement for 12 instruments, 10 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2009
- Et voilà c'est la fin du monde for narrator, solo bass trombone and nine instruments, 10 mn
- Poisson d'or - C. Debussy arrangement for orchestra, 4 mn, Belle Symphonie
- 2008
- Klarwein's eyes for solo bass trombone and six instruments, 10 mn
Liens Internet
- Site du compositeur : www.arthurlavandier.com
- Éditions Belle Symphonie : www.bellesymphonie.com
- BabelScores : www.babelscores.com
- Soundcloud : www.soundcloud.com
(liens vérifiés en avril 2023).
Discographie
- Arthur LAVANDIER, arrangements de Introduction et Allegro et Histoires Naturelles de Maurice Ravel, Anna Stéphany : mezzo-soprano, Labyrinth Ensemble, dans « Black Is the Colour », 1 CD Alpha Classics, 2018, ALPHA 384.
- Arthur LAVANDIER, « Symphonie fantastique », Le Balcon, Maxime Pascal : direction, 1 CD Alpha Classics, 2016, Alpha 539.
- Arthur LAVANDIER, « Mémoires De Bobba », 1 CD Musicales Actes Sud, 2015, ASM 24.