Cécile Chaminade - Piano Works Vol. 2 (Peter Jacobs)

Information

Composer: Cécile Chaminade

1. Arlequine, Op. 53
2. Pièce romantique, Op. 9 No. 1
3. 6 Romances sans paroles, Op. 76: 5. Chanson bretonne
4. Divertissement, Op. 105
5. 6 Pièces humoristiques, Op. 87: 5. Consolation
6. Passacaille, Op. 130
7. Nocturne, Op. 165
8. Scherzo-Valse, Op. 148
9. 6 Pièces humoristiques, Op. 87: 2. Sous bois
10. Étude symphonique, Op. 28
11. Élégie, Op. 98
12. Gigue, Op. 43
13. Au pays dévasté, Op. 155
14. Pastorale, Op. 114
15. Libellules, Op. 24
16. Valse tendre, Op. 119
17. Tristesse, Op. 104
18. 6 Études de concert, Op. 35: 5. Impromptu
19. 6 Études de concert, Op. 35: 6. Tarantelle

Peter Jacobs, piano
Date: 1993
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDH55198

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

Hyperion's first volume of Jacobs playing Cecile Chaminade's piano music (9/92) must have received a rapid endorsement from CD buyers, since it has very quickly been followed by this second volume, which I confess to finding even more attractive than its predecessor.

Chaminade made no pretence at writing lofty music that made intellectual demands on the listener. Instead she concentrated on music that is conventionally harmonic, richly melodic, highly resourceful, and always thoroughly relaxed and relaxing. Nothing here shows off the warmth of her lyrical style better than the aptly named Poeme romantique, Op. 7 No. 1, which is just one of the pieces here that immediately impress. The melody is in the left hand, with quaver accompaniment in the right, a similar feature occurring also in the much later ''Sous bois'' from the Pieces humoristiques, Op. 87. At the bottom of Chaminade's style there is something undeniably Chopinesque, or indeed Lisztian in the case of the delightful ''Consolation'' from the same Op. 87 set. There is plenty of variety about Chaminade's music, too, with lots of engaging twists and some especially energetic passages in the Gigue, Op. 43 and the ''Tarantella'' from Op. 35.

Peter Jacobs has made an admirable job of selecting the contents of this second collection, not only to highlight the charm and richness of this varied output but also to avoid any duplication of Eric Parkin's Chandos collection. The Chaminade enthusiast thus now has three extended CD collections with few duplications. As for Jacobs's style, it is marvellously relaxed, enabling him to catch all the charm, warmth and lyricism of the music. One is left feeling the urge to try the pieces at the piano oneself, whilst recognizing that one would never match Jacobs's artistry. That, I suppose, is just as it should be.

-- Andrew Lamb, Gramophone

More reviews:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/May06/Chaminade_piano_CDH55198.htm

http://www.allmusic.com/album/chaminade-piano-music-2-mw0001364683

http://www.amazon.com/Chaminade-Piano-Music-Vol-2/dp/B000002ZU0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Cécile Chaminade (8 August 1857 – 13 April 1944) was a French composer and pianist, one of the relatively few women composers of her time to achieve great popularity. She was a regular on British concert stages and a big hit in America. Many of Chaminade's piano compositions received good reviews from critics; her music was described as tuneful, highly accessible and mildly chromatic. Chaminade was relegated to obscurity for the second half of the 20th century, as her piano pieces and songs mostly forgotten. The Flute Concertino in D major, Op. 107 (1902) is her most popular piece today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9cile_Chaminade

***

Peter Jacobs (born August 17, 1945 in London) is an English pianist. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied piano with Alexander Kelley and harmony with Eric Fenby. Jacobs has etched out a career built largely on the performance of works by lesser-known and neglected English and French composers of the late 19th and 20th centuries. He has made numerous recordings for several labels, including Hyperion, Olympia, Continuum, Priory Records UK, and Altarus. Jacobs also served on the faculty of Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, West London.

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Jacobs-Peter.htm

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!