The commission

The year 2017 celebrates the hundredth anniversary of the battle of the « Chemin des dames » which occured in the region of Aisne, France, between april and october 1917. This battle has been one of the most bloody of the first World War. It has deeply left marks on the collective memory in this region, where several associations still commemorate this event. In this way, a group of associations in the area has wished to commission a contemporary musical piece evoking this sad episode of our History ; they asked Bruno Messina to benefit from the New Patrons Action. These associations’ goal is to highlight widely, through an artistic creation, the memory of the Poilus, the Senegalese infantrymen involved with the French and the German soldiers who were also mowed down during their adolescence in such an absurd combat (around 500 000 dead persons). The commissioners wish to proclaim a universal symbol of peace which will be performed again and reaffirmed in the world.

The artwork

"Le Front de l'aube" is an oratorio composed for orchestra, children's (or women) choir and solo baritone. It has been composed by Edith Canat de Chizy, from the original booklet written by Maryline Desbiolles "Ce ne sont pas des fleurs".

Edith Canat de Chizy, composer

After pursuing graduate studies in Art and Archaeology and Philosophy at the Sorbonne, Edith Canat de Chizy successively obtained six premiers prix at the Paris Conservatoire including one in composition. The catalogue of this trained violinist is presently boasting more than 70 opus numbers. Amongst notable works, most of them written to commissions by the State, Radio-France, the Orchestre de Paris, IRCAM, and ensembles , one will note in particular her vocal pieces, works for strings and symphonic scores including Omen, first performed in October 2006 by the Orchestre National de France, Pierre d’éclair (March 2011, Orchestre National de Lyon) and Over the sea, her first work for electronics (11 May 2012). She has been in residence several times, in particular at the Besançon Festival where Times, for large orchestra, was the compulsory work for the finale of the International Competition for Young Conductors in 2009 and first performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Numerous distinctions have crowned her works. Named Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, Officier of the Ordre National du Mérite, Edith Canat de Chizy was named Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. She is the first woman composer to be admitted to the Institut de France. She has taught composition at the Paris Regional Conservatory since 2007.In 2016, she was awarded the Grand Prize of the President of the Republic by the Académie Charles Cros.

Maryline Desbiolles, writer

Born in Savoie (Alps, France), Maryline Desbiolles lives in the hinterland of Nice, France. Since her childhood, she has been writing poems, short stories and, after having finished her studies in Nice, she created two poetry and litterature journals (Offset and La Métis), gathering mediterranean writers. In 1998, she was revealed to the public with her novel « La Seiche » (The Cuttlefish). In 1999, her writing , at the same time lyrical and strained, has been rewarded by the famous French prize Femina for her book « Anchise ». « Le Goinfre », published in 2004, also shows the intensity and control of her writing. She is the author of numerous novels and stories. She also wrote several fiction stories for the radio, and produced/broadcasted programmes including for Radio France.