Ransom Wilson and theOrpheus Chamber Ensemble present this new release of works for flute and chamber ensemble by composers Jean-Michel Damase (1928-2013) and Jean Francaix (1912-1997). The music of Jean-Michel Damase combines wit with gentility. His simplistic writing caused him to be frequently overlooked in favor of the avant-garde, thus little of his music is performed outside of France. The works chosen for this recording cover five decades of his oeuvre. Jean Francaix began composing at the young age of six. A child prodigy, he had already established a reputation during the 1930s for his ability to write for a wide range of genres. For this album, his Suite for solo flute and Divertimento for flute and chamber orchestra have been chosen. Ransom Wilson is recognized as one of the finest flutists of our day. He studied at the Julliard School, in Paris as a private student of Jean-Pierre Rampal, and has appeared on concert stages across the United States and Europe.
