Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Juanjo Mena - Pierné: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 (2015) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. Paysages franciscains, Op. 43: I. Au jardin de Sainte Claire "Couvent de Saint Damien"
02. Paysages franciscains, Op. 43: II. Les olivaies de la plaine d'Assise "Crépuscule d'automne"
03. Paysages franciscains, Op. 43: III. Sur la route de Poggio-Bustone "La procession"
04. Les cathédrales: Prélude (Version Without Chorus)
05. Scherzo-caprice, Op. 25
06. Poème symphonique, Op. 37
07. Fantaisie-ballet, Op. 6
08. 3 Pièces formant suite de concert, Op. 40: No. 2, Nocturne en forme de valse (Version for Piano)
09. Étude de concert, Op. 13

This is the eagerly awaited second volume of orchestral works by Pierné, played by the BBC Philharmonic under Juanjo Mena and featuring Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. The first volume, released five years ago, was ‘a delectable aperitif’ (American Record Review).

More successful than his older rival Debussy in the early twentieth century, the composer Pierné deserves to be better known nowadays. This recording features some of his most virtuosic and yet mysterious pieces, placing him at the frontier between romantic (Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Franck) and contemporary impressionist (Ravel, Debussy) influences.

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, who is often praised for his expressive power and fine technique, here takes on the challenge of bringing such gems as the Fantaisie-Ballet or Poème Symphonique to much-deserved fame.

Cathédrales and Paysages franciscains are later works (1915 and 1919 respectively), and while the former evokes scenes of devastation from WW I, the latter offers more airy and impressionist music with obvious signs of ‘modern’ influences.

“… Production values are the usual high Chandos standards Bavouzet puts as good a case for the concertante works as possible. He has demonstrated his significant talents across a remarkable range of eras and styles – from Haydn to Bartók – and here on home ground, he doesn’t put a foot wrong ...” (David Barker, MusicWeb-International)

“… beautifully rendered by Juanjo Mena and the BBC Philharmonic, while Jean-Efflam Bavouzet is not only a dazzling soloist in the three concertante works, but adds two solo-piano pieces, the Nocturne en Forme de Valse and a concert study, for good measure.” (Andrew Clements, The Guardian)

“Half a decade separates the first and second volumes of Pierné’s orchestral works from Juanjo Mena and the BBC Philharmonic, but it is worth the wait The highlight and revelation of the disc is the suite Paysages franciscains from 1919 The solo Nocturne is sublime in Bavouzet’s hands and the Etude de concert makes an enjoyably virtuosic conclusion.” (Christopher Dingle, BBC Music magazine)

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