Created in 1947 as part of the four exam pieces for the Paris Conservatoire this Sonate for Oboe and Piano is one of the early works of Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013) a French Composer following the paths of Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy with an idiosyncratic way of writing. Sonate was part of the compositions that were later disowned by the composer who considered them as being not mature enough compared to his main work even though they were played and enjoyed regularly all over the world. This duet integrates a variety of contrapuntal procedures which were highly appreciated by the composer. Composed of threemovements the first one begins with an austere canon while the latter two comprise more texture. Henri Dutilleux was internationally acclaimed for his work winning prizes such as the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society and the UNESCO's International Rostrum of Composers among many others. His work also includes a Piano sonata two symphonies the Cello concerto Tout un monde lointain (A whole distant world) the Violin concerto L'arbre des songes (The tree of dreams) and the string quartet Ainsi la nuit (Thus the night).

Version 2010-“Books talk to each other” - Umberto Eco’s statement could just as easily apply to music as Les Citations for Oboe Harpsichord Double Bass and Percussion by Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013) brilliantly proves. Written in 1991 the score was reworked by the composer for the Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise where the new version premiered in June 2010. The origin of this work goes back to For Aldeburgh 85. Written for the 75th birthday of singer Peter Pears the piece takes up a fragment of Peter Grimes whose leading role had been written by Britten for the beloved tenor. Dutilleux adds a page titled FromJanequin to Jehan Alain in which appears a song from the Renaissance composer “L’espoir que j’ay d’acquerir vostre grace” used by J. Alain in his Variations for Organ on a theme by Clément Janequin. The junction between the two parties is made through an Interlude that introduces the “wolf’s moan” theme from the ballet Le Loup (The Wolf) composed by Dutilleux in 1953 for the troupe of Roland Petit. This subtle tangle of quotations forms a shimmering and sensual work where the uniqueness of an authentic artist powerfully asserts itself.