The Ibert's works are especially dandy in the french classical music, I think. But what is the dandyism ? Probably there are many significations or opinions about the dandyism and now I examine the dandyism of Ibert's style. Ibert is famous for his definition of the genius ; « 1% d'inspiration et 99% de transposition (1% of inspiration and 99% of perspiration) » but this phrase applies to not only his attitude to composition but our interpretation of his music. So we have to make efforts. In fact, this concerto is very difficult technically. But this difficulty seemes to contain not only the virtuosity but another factor. It is the mechanical passing passage. Another typical example of this passage is that of the second part of the second movement of the first volin sonata of Saint-Saëns. People say this kind of passage is boring and worthless to make efforts because it has no musical effect. They seem right. But I would like to compare a musical piece to a programme of figure skating. A skater can repeat the triple jump many times ? - No. It is physically impossible and artistically it lacks the contrast (the dramatic effect). And a skater dances with a step. Making steps all the same form is the beauty of proportion. And this step corresponds to the mechanical passing passage. Making phrases all the same nuance is the beauty of proportion. Therefore the monotonous mechanics seem mortifications which contrast with or prpare a sweet melody or a virtuosity. This is the perspiration which Ibert said.

But in the Ibert's music, the only correct performance is not sufficient. We have to perspire but at the same time, we have to conceal the perspiration from the audience. Like a swan glides elegantly over a lake but it hides strokes of its legs below the surface. This is the very dandyism. Because the essence of the Ibert's music is the "divertissement". The Ibert's music has to sound elegantly and joyfully. So we must not interpret difficult passages painfully or clumsily and we have to interpret them easily (to all appearances at least). That is to say, the dandyism is keeping our composure.

The characterisics of the Ibert's music are the lightness and the colourfulness like the painting of Raoul DUFY. But making both compatible is very difficult. Because there is a risk that various colours become muddy in a palette. In order to avoid this risk, a sensible colouring (orchestration). An excellent example is the performance of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal with Charles DUTOIT (but they have no recordings of Symphonie Concertante). The famous recordings of Symphonie Concertante is that of Hansjörg SCHELLENBERGER, Lajos LENCSÉS and John de LANCIE.