A unique musical exploration inspired by Georges de La Tour's masterpiece "The Dice Players" has captured the imagination of classical music enthusiasts. Throughout the week, listeners have shared their musical interpretations of the 17th-century French painter's compelling work, suggesting pieces by renowned composers including Dmitri Shostakovich, Carl Orff, Arvo Pärt, Claude Debussy, Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Robert Schumann, and François Couperin.
The interactive project stems from a radio program featured on the Allegretto podcast, which aired for one hour and 28 minutes on Friday, September 5, 2025. The original painting, created around 1650-1651, measures 92.5 x 130.5 cm and is housed at the Preston Park Museum and Grounds in Stockton-on-Tees, England. This oil on canvas work exemplifies La Tour's mastery of light and shadow that has fascinated art lovers for centuries.
The musical tribute coincides with a major exhibition titled "Georges de La Tour - Between Shadow and Light," running from September 11, 2025, to January 25, 2026, at the Jacquemart-André Museum located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann in Paris's 8th arrondissement. This unprecedented exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the rare and luminous works of one of France's greatest 17th-century painters, Georges de La Tour (1593-1652).
The exhibition proposes a reinterpretation of La Tour's career while attempting to illuminate the questions that still surround his work and artistic journey. Through his subtle naturalism, the formal purity of his compositions, and their spiritual intensity, he created a pictorial language of great emotional power that has transcended centuries. The display brings together about thirty paintings and graphic works, adopting a thematic approach designed to capture the originality of Georges de La Tour.
Visitors will explore La Tour's favorite subjects, including genre scenes, figures of penitent saints, and artificial light effects, while placing his life and work within the broader context of European Caravaggism. The exhibition particularly examines the influence of French, Lorraine, and Dutch Caravaggesque painters on his distinctive style.
Additionally, the cultural programming extends beyond the museum walls. Concert tickets are being offered for a special performance on September 13 at La Maison Jean Cocteau, an 18th-century house-museum located in the village of Milly-la-Forêt in Essonne. This venue hosts a new concert series that illustrates the poet's passion for music and the various sound universes that marked his life. The final concert of the summer season features a duo between Florent Héau on clarinet and Théo Ould on accordion, with a program showcasing music from the Group of Six composers.
