Lili Boulanger Essentials

Winning the prestigious Prix de Rome at age 19 in 1913—the first female composer to do so—Lili Boulanger would go on to produce a striking and lyrically masterful body of work before her premature death at age 24. Works like “Nocturne” and “D'un matin de printemps” for piano trio show melodic freedom and a sophisticated approach to harmonic progression reminiscent of Debussy and Fauré, while songs like “Reflets” and “Attente” embody the deep pathos of French modernism. Her enduring song cycle Clairières dans le ciel brings a rich set of impressions and moods.