Audio Series Explores The Soundtrack To Denver’s Monet Extravaganza

CPR Classical takes you on a journey to discover musical Impressionism in its on-air series Monet Mondays throughout the Denver Art Museum's special exhibit “Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature,” ending February 2.

Each audio story, which you can click below to hear, explores the rich catalog of French Impressionist music and its relationship with the art that helped inspire it. 

Denver is the only U.S. city to host the Monet exhibit, including an astonishing 120 piece collection of works by Monet. It then moves on to its only other destination - Museum Barberini outside of Berlin, Germany.

“For me, Monet is an artist who makes people feel… you can experience his works with all of your senses,” said Museum Barberini director Ortrud Westheider. “And bottom line, he makes you happy. I think that's why a lot of people are into impressionist art and interested in Monet's work.”

But the exhibit at the DAM is more than visual. Flowing from the gallery speakers, attendees hear a custom Impressionist music collection created by CPR Classical in collaboration with the DAM called Music in Monet's Time. Additionally, the audio tour for the museum's exhibit (voiced by CPR Classical's Monika Vischer) features the Denver Philharmonic with music by Debussy, Ravel, and Fauré to accompany Monet's play of landscape, water and light.

Click below to listen and learn about musical Impressionism:

What Is Impressionism In Music? by Karla Walker

Impressionism: A New Idea In Music by Scott O’Neil, from the CPR Performance Studio

Musical Impressionism Started With Claude Debussy’s ‘Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun’ by David Ginder

The Similarities Between Monet And Debussy by Scott O’Neil, from the CPR Performance Studio

Why Water Was Fundamental To Claude Debussy’s Music by Matt Weesner

Why So Much Great Art Came From Paris Before WWI by Karla Walker

Music During Monet's Time by Jean Inaba

Debussy Breaks Rules of Harmony and Challenges His Teacher, Ernest Guiraud; by Scott O’Neil, from the CPR Performance Studio

Monet And The Legacy of Solitary Men by Ray White

Musical Impressionism Spread Beyond The Boundaries Of France by Jean Inaba

Monet Mondays airs Mondays through Jan 27, 2020 on CPR Classical at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.. Listen to CPR Classical on your radio at 88.1 FM in Denver, stream the music on this website, or by asking your smart speaker to "Play CPR Classical." (Find other ways to listen.)

For a limited time, if you become a member of Colorado Public Radio, you can select "Music in Monet's Time," as a thank you gift. This custom CD of great Impressionist music was created by CPR Classical in partnership with the Denver Art Museum.