RENÉ MAILLARD (b.1931): Surviving after Hiroshima for Mezzo-Soprano, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 24, Concerto Grosso for Wind Quintet and String Orchestra, Op. 17, Concerto da Camera No. 2 for String Orchestra, Op. 16.

Description: A winner of the Prix de Rome, Maillard checked out of a musical career and went to work for a pharmaceutical manufacturer, writing nothing from 1961 until 2003 when retirement allowed him the opportunity to get reinvolved. The two Concerti here date from 1959-60 and 1961 and are attractive, melodic, neo-Baroque pieces in that particular Gallic tradition. The oratorio was written in 2006-07, setting a poem concerning a female Japanese survivor of Hiroshima. A bit more expressionistic, it nonetheless remains quite tonal and approachable. French-English texts. Sarah Jouffroy (mezzo), Eléonore Lemaire (soprano), Marie Pouchelon (mezzo), Teddy Henry (tenor), Virgile Ancely (bass-baritone), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Dionysio Dervis-Bournias.