| Label: CHANDOS
Catalog: CHAN10633
Format: CD Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano), BBC Philharmonic conducted by Juanjo MenaGabriel Pierné (1863-1937)
Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 12 / Suites Nos 1 and 2 from 'Ramuntcho' / Divertissements sur un thème pastoral, Op. 49 / Marche des petits soldats de plomb Gramophone Editor's Choice - March 2011
This is Jean-Efflam Bavouzet's third recording as a concerto soloist for Chandos, following this year's highly acclaimed accounts of the piano concertos by Bartók (CHAN 10610) and Ravel (CHSA 5084). Bavouzet is a true master of the French repertoire, as is evident from his award winning complete Debussy series. He is accompanied by Juanjo Mena - Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic from September 2011 - who here makes his debut on Chandos.
Whilst no longer a household name, Pierné was in his day a highly respected and very active composer and conductor, as well as a key figure in the French musical establishment (he even has a square named after him in Paris). He received the French Légion d'Honneur in 1900, and in 1910 conducted the premiere of Stravinsky's L'Oiseau de feu. A pupil of Franck and Massenet, he composed music with tremendous fluency and all his works were written with a characteristically light, French touch. His style combines the essence of his two key teachers: there is a mixture of the seriousness of Franck and the sensuality of Massenet, and these elements fused to produce a string of very attractive and tuneful orchestral pieces.
Cast in the traditional three movements, the Piano Concerto was completed in 1886. After an imposing introduction, the classical structure of the movement unfolds with a charm reminiscent of the music of Saint Saëns. A bright and cheerful Scherzando separates the first movement and the brilliant rondo finale, which uses material heard previously.
The Suites from Ramuntcho derive from music which Pierné wrote for the play of the same name by Pierre Loti in 1908. Here the story of the Basque smuggler provided Pierné with plenty of opportunities to imbue his score with vibrant Basque colours and rhythms. Whilst the extended overture to the suites is one of his most successful works, movements such as the lively Fandango and the final Rapsodie basque are equally appealing, both in terms of melody and orchestral colour.
However, the composer's most famous work may well be the Marche des petits soldats de plomb (March of the Little Lead Soldiers) which enjoyed a great vogue up until recent years. This recording reveals its catchy charms to a new generation.  Price: $25.98 |
)
