Gabriel Fauré:
- Piano Music
Fauré:
Thème & Variations, Op. 73
Valse-caprice, Op. 30
Valse-caprice, Op. 38
Nocturne No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 37
Nocturne No. 6 in D flat major, Op. 63
Nocturne No. 13 in B minor, Op. 119
Ballade in F sharp major for solo piano or piano & orchestra, Op. 19
Performed by Angela Hewitt (piano)
Angela Hewitt’s recordings of French piano music have received the high acclaim, her ‘tenderness, Gallic wit, verve, and—the most important ingredient of all—charm’ proving perfect for works by Chabrier, Debussy, Ravel and indeed Rameau and Couperin.
On this CD, she turns to a composer who is more serious and introspective, with a refinement that has led to him being relatively overlooked by performers. But in Angela Hewitt’s hands this music is an great joy.
This album includes the major work ‘Thème et variations, Op 73’—one of Gabriel Faure’s greatest works for piano—and a selection of Valses-caprices and Nocturnes. It ends with a more radiant piece from Fauré’s youth, the earliest piece included on this recording—the ‘Ballade pour piano seul, Op 19’, dedicated to Saint-Saëns.
Gramophone Magazine, September 2013, wrote about Ms. Hewitt as follows:
“Turning convention topsy-turvy, she reminds us in her vehement, brightly lit performances that Faure objected to pianists who play his music ‘with the shutters down’”
Here is Maurice Ravel’s “Le tombeau de Couperin” performed by Angela Hewitt:
And next, here is Claude Debussy’s “Clair de lune” beautifully performed by Angela Hewitt:
Let’s end with Angela Hewitt performing Bach: French Suite No. 2. ‘Courante’:
Tags: Angela Hewitt, piano, Gabriel Faure, Debussy, Bach, Ravel