(b. 29 May 1955, Nancy).
French composer of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world.
Mr. Dusapin studied arts and aesthetics, as well as plastic arts and sciences, at the Université Paris Sorbonne-Paris IV. He then attended seminars by Iannis Xenakis at the Université Paris Sorbonne-Paris IV from 1974–78.
Among his honours are a prize from the Fondation de la vocation (1977), the Prix Hervé Dugardin from SACEM (1979) and a scholarship to stay at the Villa Medici in Rome (1981–83). He later received the Prix du Syndicat de la critique in Paris (1993), the Prix Symphonique from SACEM (1994), the Grand Prix National de la Musique from the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication of France (1995), the Victoire de la Musique Classique (1998, for the recording of Extenso [Solo No. 2], Apex [Solo No. 3] and La Melancholia), the selected work at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers in Paris (1998, for Watt), the Prix du Syndicat de la critique in Paris (2003, for Perelà, uomo di fumo), and the Dan David Prize (2007). He has been a member of the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste in Munich since 2006.
He is also active in other positions. He served as composer-in-residence to the Orchestre National de Lyon in 1993–94 and later to the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire from 2014–16.
He taught as Chaire internationale de création artistique at the Collège de France in Paris in 2006–07.
His publisher is Éditions Durand-Salabert-Eschig.
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Roméo et Juliette (opéra en 9 numéros, libretto by Olivier Cadiot), mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone, speaker–soprano, speaker–baritone, speaker–bass-baritone, 4 mixed voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, baritone), mixed chorus, clarinet (+ E-flat clarinet, alto clarinet, contrabass clarinet), large orchestra (60 players), 1985–88 (also version of one section as a concert work: Red Rock)
Medeamaterial (opera, libretto by Heiner Müller), coloratura soprano, female speaker, male speaker, 4 mixed voices (3 sopranos, countertenor), mixed chorus, Baroque orchestra (organ, harpsichord, 21 strings), 1991
La Melancholia (opératorio, texts by Galen of Pergamon, Johannes Trithemius, St. Hildegard of Bingen, Leonardo Dati, Plotinus, Everhard von Wampen, William Shakespeare, Homer, St. Ambrose of Milan, Michèle Scott, Geoffrey Chaucer, Hesiod, anonymous sources), soprano, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, tenor, 12 mixed voices, French horn, trumpet, trombone, large orchestra (62 players), fixed media, 1991
To be sung (chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after Gertrude Stein), 3 sopranos, speaker, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), trumpet, trombone, cello, double bass, fixed media, 1992–93
Perelà, uomo di fumo (opéra en 10 chapitres, libretto by the composer, after Aldo Palazzeschi), coloratura soprano, soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, 2 countertenors, tenor, 2 bass-baritones, 6 basses, 6 mixed voices, mixed chorus, positive organ, on-stage ensemble (flute, clarinet, 2 saxophones, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 2 percussion), large orchestra (90 players), fixed media, 1998–2001 (a concert suite was arranged as Perelà Suite)
Momo (spectacle musical jeune public, text by Leigh Sauerwein), male speaker (+ cimbalom), clarinet, mandolin (+ guitar), violin (+ viola), cello, 2002
Faustus, the Last Night (opera in 1 act, libretto by the composer, after Christopher Marlowe), soprano, tenor, 3 bass-baritones, mixed chorus, on-stage ensemble (French horn, trumpet [+ piccolo trumpet], trombone), large orchestra, 2003–04
Passion (opera, libretto by the composer, Rita de Letteriis), soprano, baritone, 6 mixed voices (2 sopranos, alto, tenor, baritone, bass), flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, harp, oud (lute from the Middle East), 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, harpsichord, synthesizer, live electronics, 2006–08
O Mensch! (Inventaire raisonné de quelques passions Nietzschéennes) (27 pièces, text by Friedrich Nietzsche, adapted by the composer), baritone, piano, 2008–09
Penthesilea (opera, libretto by the composer, Beate Haeckl, after Heinrich von Kleist), soprano, 4 mezzo-sopranos, 2 baritones, bass-baritone, mixed chorus, large orchestra, fixed media, 2011–14 (a concert suite was arranged as Wenn Du dem Wind...)
ORCHESTRAL:
L'Aven, flute, large orchestra (71 players), 1980–81
Aria (concerto), clarinet, small orchestra (13 players), 1991
Coda, small orchestra (13 players), 1992
Go (Solo No. 1), large orchestra (83 players), 1992
Khôra, 60 strings, 1993 (also version for 30 strings, 1996)
Extenso (Solo No. 2), large orchestra (84 players), 1993–94
Watt, trombone, large orchestra (69 players), 1994
Apex (Solo No. 3), large orchestra (83 players), 1995
Quad (in memoriam Gilles Deleuze) (concerto), violin, small orchestra (15 players), 1996
Celo (concerto), cello, orchestra, 1996
Clam (Solo No. 4), large orchestra (95 players), 1997–98
Galim (requies plena oblectationis), flute, 25 strings, 1998
À quia (concerto), piano, orchestra, 2001–02
Exeo (Solo No. 5), large orchestra, 2002–03
Perelà Suite, large orchestra, 2004 (concert suite from Perelà, uomo di fumo)
Reverso (Solo No. 6), large orchestra (96 players), 2006–07
Uncut (Solo No. 7), large orchestra, 2008–09
Quatuor VI, 'Hinterland' (hapax), string quartet, orchestra (8 winds, 2 French horns, harp, strings), 2009
Concerto No. 1 (Morning in Long Island), spatial ensemble (French horn, trumpet, trombone), large orchestra, 2010
Aufgang (concerto), violin, large orchestra, 2011
Outscape (concerto), cello, large orchestra (12 winds, 8 brass, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2014–15
At swim-two-birds (concerto), violin, cello, large orchestra, 2017
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Inside, viola, 1980
Musique captive, piccolo, oboe, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, soprano saxophone, contrabassoon, 2 trumpets, bass trombone, 1980
Trio à cordes, 'Musique fugitive', violin, viola, cello, 1980
Incisa, cello, 1982
Fist, English horn, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, French horn, trombone, viola, cello, double bass, 1982
Quatuor I, string quartet, 1982, revised 1992–96
Hop', 4 ensembles (flute, bassoon, viola; bass clarinet, French horn, violin; oboe, trumpet, cello; clarinet, French horn, double bass), 1983–84
If, clarinet, 1984
Item, cello, 1985
Itou, bass clarinet, 1985
Ici, flute, 1986
Laps, clarinet, cello/double bass, 1986–87
Indeed, trombone, 1987
Iti, violin, 1987
Sly, 4 trombones, 1987
Quatuor II, 'Time Zones', string quartet, 1988–89
In and Out, double bass, 1989
I Pesci, flute, 1989
Attacca, 2 trumpets, timpani, 1991
Stanze (dyade), French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1991
Ohimé, violin, viola, 1992
Invece, cello, 1992
Quatuor III, string quartet, 1993
Ipso, clarinet, 1994
Loop, 8 cellos, 1995
Ohé, clarinet, cello, 1996
Immer, cello, 1996
Iota, cello, 1996
Trio Rombach, clarinet/violin, cello, piano, 1997
Quatuor IV, string quartet, 1997
Cascando, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet (+ piccolo trumpet), trombone, double bass, 1997
In nomine, viola, 2000
Imago, cello, 2001
Quatuor V, string quartet, 2004–05
Quatuor VII, 'OpenTime' (21 variations), string quartet, 2009
50 Notes en 3 Variations, cello, 2010
Microgrammes (sept pièces), violin, viola, cello, 2010–11
Jetzt genau!, piano, ensemble (bass clarinet, bass trombone, harp, cello, double bass, percussion), 2012
By the Way, clarinet, piano, 2012–14
In vivo, violin, 2014
CHORAL:
Niobé (ou le Rocher de Sypile) (text by Robert Fohr, after Ovid, Juvenal, Lucius Annæus Seneca, Decimius Magnus Ausonius, Sextus Propertius), soprano, 12 mixed voices, oboe (+ English horn), 2 clarinets (2nd + bass clarinet), 2 bassoons, trumpet, 2 trombones, 1982
Semino (chant), 6 mixed voices, 1985
Granum sinapis, mixed chorus, 1992–97
Umbræ mortis, mixed chorus, 1997
Dona eis (texts from the Requiem, Olivier Cadiot), mixed chorus, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, 1998
VOCAL:
Shin'-gyō (text from a sūtra from Japan), soprano, piccolo, 1981
To God (text by William Blake), soprano, clarinet/soprano saxophone, 1985
Mimi (text by Olivier Cadiot), 2 female voices, oboe, bass clarinet, trombone, 1986
Il-li-ko (text by Olivier Cadiot), soprano, 1987
Anacoluthe (text by Olivier Cadiot), female voice, contrabass clarinet, double bass, 1987
Red Rock, 2 sopranos, countertenor, alto clarinet/bass clarinet ad libitum, 1987 (concert version of section of Roméo et Juliette)
Aks (text from a popular source in Occitan), mezzo-soprano, flute (+ piccolo), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, cello, 1987
For O. (text by Samuel Daniel), 2 female voices, 2 bass clarinets, 1988
So full of shapes is fancy (text by William Shakespeare), soprano, bass clarinet, 1990
Comœdia (text by Dante Alighieri), soprano, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), trumpet, violin, viola, 1993
Two Walking (text by Gertrude Stein), 2 female voices, 1994
Canto (text by Giacomo Leopardi), soprano, clarinet, cello, 1994
Ô Berio, soprano, small orchestra (13 players), 2006
Wolken (text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe), soprano, piano, 2013–14
Wenn Du dem Wind..., mezzo-soprano, large orchestra, 2014 (concert suite from Penthesilea)
Beckett's bones (text by Samuel Beckett), soprano, clarinet, piano, 2016
PIANO:
Sept Études, 1997–2001 (its seven sections may be performed separately: Étude No. 1, 1997; Étude No. 2, 1998; Étude No. 3, 1999; Étude No. 4, 1998–99; Étude No. 5, 1999; Étude No. 6, 2000–01; Étude No. 7, 2000–01)
ORGAN:
Memory, 2008
DIDACTIC MUSIC:
Poco a poco, 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 2 cellos, 1986
DISCOGRAPHY
Laps; Item; Itou; To God; If; Indeed; Mimi; Il-li-ko; Anacoluthe. Françoise Kübler, Marie-Claude Vallin, sopranos; René Bellier, oboe; Armand Angster, clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet; Benny Sluchin, trombone; Alain Meunier, cello; Jean-Paul Céléa, double bass (Harmonic Records: H/CD 8721, 1987 [reissued as Accord: 204582, 1994])
Indeed. Benny Sluchin, trombone (ADDA Records: CCS 581087, 1989)
Fist. (Fonit Cetra: CDC 59, 1990)
Roméo et Juliette. Bernadette Mercier, soprano; Valérie Joly, Françoise Kübler, mezzo-sopranos; Timothy Greacen, countertenor; Pascal Sausy, baritone; Nicholas Isherwood, bass; Cyrille Gerstenhaber, speaker–soprano; Julien Combey, speaker–bass-baritone; Olivier Cadiot, speaker; Armand Angster, clarinet, E-flat clarinet, alto clarinet, contrabass clarinet; Luca Pfaff/Groupe Vocal de France, Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse (Accord: 201162, 1991)
Medeamaterial. Hilde Leidland, coloratura soprano; Marie-Noëlle de Callataÿ, Zofia Kilanowicz, Michele Patzakis, sopranos; Ralf Popken, countertenor; François Beukelaers, Caroline Petrick, speakers; Philippe Herreweghe/Collegium Vocale Gent, Orchestre de la Chapelle Royale (Harmonia Mundi: HMC 905215, 1993)
Quatuor II, 'Time Zones'; Quatuor III. Arditti String Quartet (Montaigne Auvidis: MO 782016, 1994 [reissued as Naïve Records: MO 782125, 2001])
Fist; Hop'; Musique captive; Aks; Niobé (ou le Rocher de Sypile). Christina Ascher, soprano; Hélène Delavault, mezzo-soprano; Paul Méfano/Groupe Vocal de France, Ensemble 2e2m (2e2m Collection: 2e2m 1008, 1995)
Ici; Shin'-gyō; Laps (version for flute, double bass); I Pesci. Yumi Nara, soprano; Cécile Daroux, flute, piccolo; Jean-Paul Céléa, double bass (Éditions Salabert: SCD 9603, 1996 [reissued as Naïve Records: MO 782173, 2004])
Canto; Ipso; Two Walking; Invece; So full of shapes is fancy; In and Out; For O. Accroche Note (Accord: 205272, 1997)
Stanze. Ensemble Odyssée (Disques Chamade: CHCD 5642, 1997)
Aks; Aria; Attacca; Coda; Comœdia; Fist; Hop'. Françoise Kübler, mezzo-soprano; Armand Angster, clarinet; Philippe Nahon/Ensemble Ars Nova (Éditions Salabert: SCD 9701, 1997 [reissued as Naïve Records: MO 782150, 2003])
Extenso (Solo No. 2); Apex (Solo No. 3); La Melancholia. Nan Christie, soprano; Cécile Éloir, mezzo-soprano; Timothy Greacen, countertenor; Martyn Hill, tenor; Emmanuel Krivine/Orchestre National de Lyon; David Robertson/Chœurs et Solistes de Lyon-Bernard Têtu, Orchestre National de Lyon (Montaigne Auvidis: MO 782073, 1997 [reissued as Naïve Records: MO 782124, 2001])
Semino. Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart (col legno: WWE 20030, 1998)
To be sung. Rosemary Hardy, Sarah Leonard, Susan Narucki, sopranos; Geoffrey Carey, speaker; Olivier Dejours/Ensemble Le Banquet (Radio France: MFA 216026, 1998)
Red Rock. Voxnova (Mode Records: mode 68, 1999)
Granum sinapis; Umbræ mortis; Dona eis. Laurence Equilbey/Accentus, Ensemble Ars Nova (Montaigne Auvidis: MO 782116, 2000)
I Pesci. Juliette Hurel, flute (Naïve Records: V 4925, 2002)
Watt; Galim; Celo. Juliette Hurel, flute; Alain Trudel, trombone; Sonia Wieder-Atherton, cello; Pascal Rophé/Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon (Naïve Records: MO 782153, 2003)
Sept Études; À quia. Ian Pace, piano; Christoph Eschenbach/Orchestre de Paris (Naïve Records: MO 782164, 2003)
Quatuor IV; Quatuor I. Quatuor Danel (Musidisc: 2244265, 2004)
Perelà, uomo di fumo. Chantal Perraud, coloratura soprano; Isabelle Philippe, soprano; Nora Gubisch, mezzo-soprano; Martine Mahé, alto; Daniel Gundlach, countertenor; John Graham-Hall, tenor; Nicolas Courjal, bass-baritone; Niels van Doesum, Friedemann Röhlig, Scott Wilde, Gilles Yanetti, basses; Alain Altinoglu/Chœur de l'Opéra National de Montpellier, Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon (Naïve Records: MO 782168, 2004)
Trio Rombach (version for violin, cello, piano). Trio Élégiaque (Triton: 331144, 2005)
Faustus, the Last Night. Caroline Stein, soprano; Robert Wörle, tenor; Urban Malmberg, Georg Nigl, baritones; Jaco Huijpen, bass-baritone; Jonathan Stockhammer/Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon (Naïve Records: MO 782177, 2006) (DVD)
Quatuor V; Quatuor IV; Quatuor III; Quatuor II, 'Time Zones'; Quatuor I; Trio à cordes, 'Musique fugitive'. Arditti String Quartet (æon: AECD 0983, 2009)
Go (Solo No. 1); Extenso (Solo No. 2); Apex (Solo No. 3); Clam (Solo No. 4); Exeo (Solo No. 5); Reverso (Solo No. 6); Uncut (Solo No. 7). Pascal Rophé/Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège (Naïve Records: MO 782180, 2010)
Sept Études. Vanessa Wagner, piano (Actes Sud Musicales: ASM 08, 2012)
O Mensch! (Inventaire raisonné de quelques passions Nietzschéennes). Georg Nigl, baritone; Vanessa Wagner, piano (col legno: WWE 20405, 2012)
50 Notes en 3 Variations. Anssi Karttunen, cello (Toccata Classics: TOCC0171, 2013)
Reverso (Solo No. 6); Uncut (Solo No. 7); Concerto No. 1 (Morning in Long Island). Myung-Whun Chung/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (Deutsche Grammophon: 481 0786-2, 2014)
Aufgang. Renaud Capuçon, violin; Myung-Whun Chung/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (Parlophone Records Ltd.: 5646-02687-6, 2016)
Quatuor VI, 'Hinterland'; Quatuor VII, 'OpenTime'. Arditti String Quartet; Pascal Rophé/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (æon: AECD 1753, 2017)
Incisa; If; Item; Laps; Invece; Ipso; Immer; Ohé; Iota; Imago. Benjamin Dieltjens, clarinet; Arne Deforce, cello (æon: AECD 1756, 2017)
Wenn Du dem Wind...; Aufgang; À quia. Natascha Petrinsky, mezzo-soprano; Carolin Widmann, violin; Nicolas Hodges, piano; Pascal Rophé/Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire (BIS Records: BIS-2262, 2018) (SACD)
Aks. Albena Kechlibareva Bernstein, mezzo-soprano; Christo Pavilov, flute, piccolo; Angel Makedonski, trumpet; Stanislav Potchekanski, trombone; Elka Zacharieva, cello (Acropolis: 04010)
Sly. Alain Trudel, trombones (Latitude 45: CLCD 2015)
Loop. Octuor de Violoncelles (Transes européennes: TE 013 ND 214)
Sly. Alain Trudel, trombones (WO: 121294)