Le Front de l'Aube, for solo baritone, children's choir & orchestra 

As part of the Centennial Mission 14-18, on the occasion of the centenary of the Battle of the Chemin des Dames, Edith Canat de Chizy will deliver a new seven-part Oratorio for solo baritone, children's choir and orchestra. A poignant work expressing the tragic destiny of the fighters, the rebellion of the mutineers and the dark memory of this reddened land of the Aisne Valley. A front line where more than 350,000 French and German fighters perished. On October 13th, a few kilometers from this sadly legendary ridge line, in the Cathedral of Laon, the first of this work will be given ...

As part of the centennial celebrations of 1917, this work was commissioned for the commemoration of the battle of the "Chemin des dames" in Aisne, where the Germans had settled. 

The order of attack was given at 6 am on 16 April 1917 hence the title "Front de l'Aube". This battle generated terrible loss which triggered revolts and interrupted the offensive against the Germans.

The "Chemin des dames" is a long crest that separates the valleys of Aisne and Ailette. The entire elaboration of the booklet was organized around this idea of "path from above", inducing the notions of "above" and "below", evoking cemeteries planted with white crosses that run the length of this road, without forgetting the soldier’s rebellion that ensued.

The baritone embodies their voice, their suffering, their death, the children’s choir evokes their afterlife.

Edith Canat de Chizy

Concert dates:

13 Oct. 2017 - Laon - Cathédrale

14 Oct. 2017 - Saint-Quentin - Théâtre Jean Vilar

15 Oct. 2017 - Soissons - Cité de la Musique