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In French music, Gabriel Faure (1845 – 1924) forms a link
between Romanticism and modernism: in Paris in the
year of his birth, Chopin was still composing, and by the
time of his death, jazz was all the rage, while Stravinsky
was championing neoclassicism. This present recording
contains all of Faure's music for cello and piano, including
the much-loved Elegie and Sicilienne – pieces that are
sometimes described as 'salon music', with qualities that
caused Debussy to dub the composer 'the master of
charms'.
But interspersed with this lighter fare are also the two
sonatas from Faure's later period when, suffering from
increasing deafness, he developed a more pared-down
style. Even though the sonatas came into being only a few
years apart they are nevertheless quite different –
appearing in 1917, Sonata No. 1 in D minor is very much
a wartime work, at times almost violent. The G minor
Sonata is altogether more accessible, with a vivacious
finale that caused the composer Vincent d'Indy to remark
to the 78-year old Faure: 'How lucky you are to stay
young like that!'
Andreas Brantelid's previous release for BIS – a disc with
music by Grieg and Percy Grainger – received critical
acclaim including a Gramophone Editor's Choice. For this
all-Faure programme he has chosen to collaborate with
pianist and highly respected chamber musician Bengt
Forsberg.
1 Romance, Op.69 3'37
2 Papillon, Op.77 2'44
3 Serenade, Op.98 2'57
4 Berceuse, Op.16 3'30
Sonata No.1 in D minor for cello and piano, Op.109 20'46
5 I. Allegro5'43
6 II. Andante7'10
7 III. Finale. Allegro comodo7'53
Morceau de lecture for two cellos
8 Allegretto moderato 0'58
9 Berceuse, Op.56 No.1, from 'Dolly' 2'27
Sicilienne, Op.78
10 Andantino 3'41
Elegie, Op.24
11 Molto adagio 6'47
Sonata No.2 in G minor for cello and piano, Op.117 18'09
12 I. Allegro 6'16
13 II. Andante 7'07
14 III. Allegro vivo 4'46
15 Andante for cello and harmonium 4'31
Album total 70'13 |
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