"ELEGANT FRANCE", Narva

We invite you to the chamber music concert “Elegant France”, dedicated to the mastery of 19th–20th century composers Claude Debussy, Jules Massenet, Nadia Boulanger, and others.

An exquisite concert program will be performed by charismatic musicians from the Baltic region:

• Anna Salnit (violin, Latvia)
• Tatiana Gashimova (cello, Estonia)
• Olga Kreiter (piano, Estonia)

At the concert, you will hear subtle and diverse shades, sonic nuances, and timbral interplay in the captivating violin and cello sonatas by Gabriel Fauré and Claude Debussy, Debussy’s piano trio; pieces by “the poet of the female soul” Jules Massenet—one of the most popular composers of French lyrical opera; as well as the extraordinarily poignant, hauntingly beautiful, and lyrical Trois Pièces for cello and piano by Nadia Boulanger.

Concert duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.

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Program

Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979)
Trois Pièces pour violoncelle et piano (9’)
1. Modéré
2. Sans vitesse et à l’aise
3. Vite et nerveusement rythmé

Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)
Sonate pour violon et piano No. 2 en mi mineur, Op. 108 (22’)
1. Allegro non troppo
2. Andante
3. Finale. Allegro non troppo

Jules Massenet (1842–1912)
Méditation de Thaïs (5’)

INTERMISSION

Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en ré mineur (11’)
1. Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto
2. Sérénade: Modérément animé
3. Finale: Animé

Trio pour piano, violon et violoncelle en sol majeur (25’)
1. Andantino con moto allegro
2. Scherzo: Intermezzo – Moderato con allegro
3. Andante espressivo
4. Finale: Appassionato

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Composers

Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979)
A distinguished French composer, pedagogue, and conductor, Nadia Boulanger had a profound influence on 20th-century music. Among her students were Aaron Copland, Darius Milhaud, Astor Piazzolla, and other eminent composers. Although Boulanger dedicated a significant part of her career to teaching, her own compositions—though not extensive—are marked by deep expressiveness and refined musical language.

Trois Pièces pour violoncelle et piano
These three miniatures, composed in 1914, demonstrate Boulanger’s exquisite command of harmony and texture. The first piece (Modéré) is imbued with contemplative lyricism, the second (Sans vitesse et à l’aise) features gentle expressiveness, and the third (Vite et nerveusement rythmé) displays a rapid, energetic character that highlights the virtuosity of the cello.

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Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)
One of the greatest French composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Gabriel Fauré blended elements of classical tradition with innovative harmonic language. His music is distinguished by its elegance, fluid melodic lines, and rich timbral palette.

Sonate pour violon et piano No. 2 en mi mineur, Op. 108
Composed between 1916 and 1917, Fauré’s Second Violin Sonata belongs to his late creative period. The first movement (Allegro non troppo) combines drama with the characteristic clarity of Fauré’s musical fabric. The second (Andante) reveals a delicate cantilena reminiscent of a vocal style. The finale (Allegro non troppo), filled with lively motion, concludes the work with a joyful and energetic culmination.

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Jules Massenet (1842–1912)
A French composer and master of the operatic genre, Massenet’s works are renowned for their refined melodicism, elegance, and expressiveness.

Méditation de Thaïs
This piece, written for the opera Thaïs (1894), serves as an instrumental interlude between the scenes of the second act. Its poignant solo violin melody, accompanied by arpeggiated piano chords, has become one of Massenet’s most famous works, symbolizing the spiritual transformation of the opera’s protagonist.

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Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
A pioneer of musical impressionism, Claude Debussy profoundly influenced the development of 20th-century European music. His works display an exquisite sense of tonal color, harmonic refinement, and vivid imagery.

Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en ré mineur
Debussy’s Cello Sonata (1915) is the first work in his planned but unfinished cycle of six sonatas for various instruments. The music features both elements of the French Baroque and the composer’s own innovative explorations.
Prologue (Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto) presents a majestic, almost archaic theme. In Sérénade (Modérément animé), Debussy employs unexpected rhythmic patterns reminiscent of theatrical buffoonery. The Finale (Animé) is an energetic, contrasting movement that blends drama with playfulness.

Trio pour piano, violon et violoncelle en sol majeur
Debussy’s Piano Trio (1879) belongs to his early creative period. Despite the influence of Romantic traditions, his distinctive style is already evident. The first movement (Andantino con moto allegro) is filled with tenderness and gentle melancholy. The Scherzo – Intermezzo (Moderato con allegro) is built on playful rhythmic figures and subtle harmonic shades. The Andante espressivo develops a lyrical, almost vocal theme. The finale (Appassionato) is emotionally rich and dynamic, concluding the work in a major key while retaining a sense of internal tension.

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About performers

Anna Salnit / Violin

Anna’s musical career began at the Moscow Regional College of Music named after Prokofiev. She continued her studies at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn. Her artistic formation is linked to the Russian violin school, with mentors including Anna Dvoretskaya, Professor Marta Kushnirskaya, Professor Uldis Viesturs Sprudz, Tereze Ijaba-Ziberte, and Professor Arvo Leibur. She refined her chamber music interpretation skills under the guidance of Professor Gunta Sproge, Professor Agne Sprudzja, Marrit Gerretz-Traksman, and Professor Janis Malecskis.

Anna has extensive stage experience, performing in various ensembles and orchestras across Europe. Currently, she is a member of the Sempre Musica piano trio and the artistic director of the Alma string quartet. Since 2022, she has been an artist of the concert agency OKONCERT.LV.

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Tatiana Gashimova / Cello

Tatiana is the principal cellist of the Narva City Symphony Orchestra (Estonia) and the Collegium Musicum Riga Baroque Orchestra (Latvia). She has collaborated with various orchestras and chamber ensembles across Europe, performing in Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Switzerland, Cyprus, Finland, France, South Korea, Greece, and Sweden.

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Olga Kreiter / Piano

Olga began her piano studies at the Viimsi Music School under Marju Mägi and later studied with Piret Väinmaa at the Georg Ots Music School in Tallinn. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Frankfurt and her master’s at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Since 2023, she has been furthering her studies in Stuttgart, specializing in opera repertoire. She is passionate about working with singers and instrumentalists