Charles Gounod - Piano Works (Roberto Prosseda)

Information

Composer: Charles Gounod

• (01) La Veneziana (Barcarolle) in G minor, CG593
• (02) Impromptu in G major, CG 580 WP
• (03) Souvenance (Nocturne) in E flat major, CG 590
• (04) Marche funèbre d'une marionnette in D minor, CG 583
• (05) Six romances sans paroles
• (11) Méditation sur le 1er prélude de piano de J.S. Bach (Ave Maria), CG 89b
• (12) Six préludes et fugues, CG 587
• (24) Sonate pour piano à quatre mains in E flat major, CG 617

Roberto Prosseda, piano
Enrico Pompili, piano (24-26)

Date: 2018
Label: Decca Italy
http://www.universalmusic.it/musica-classica/album/gounod-piano-works_32549461928/

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

Everyone knows about Charles Gounod’s operas and choral works, but who knew that he also wrote solo piano music? I certainly didn’t, until this release came to my attention. It offers a judiciously contrasted representation of the composer’s keyboard output, starting with two beautiful charmers: a barcarolle entitled (what else?) La Veneziana, and an Impromptu that’s actually a peach of a waltz. The E-flat Nocturne may not dig deep like Chopin, but there’s no doubting Gounod’s disarming gift for cranking out lovely tunes. Once past the Funeral March for a Marionette’s quirky introduction, veteran TV buffs will have an “aha” moment when the main theme kicks in: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”!
/> As you might gather, the six Songs Without Words are akin to Mendelssohn’s in that they’re alternately saccharine (Nos. 1 and 2), and inspired (Nos. 3 through 6). Gounod also wrote a solo piano version of his (in)famous Ave Maria based on the first Prelude from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, where the pianist has to balance the vocal line and accompaniment in clear and effortless perspective. The Six Preludes and Fugues are basically academic studies, yet quite tuneful and unpretentious. The previously unrecorded Sonata for Piano Duet, however, is a minor masterpiece. Its first-movement Tarantella rivals Rossini for invention and wit. The Schubertian Adagio makes full use of the piano’s registers without ever sounding too thick, while the Presto Finale (sound clip) features dashing unison octave runs, surprising harmonic detours, and dramatic use of dynamics that foreshadow Gounod’s future prowess as a man of the theater.

Roberto Prosseda is no stranger to Gounod, having previously recorded the composer’s complete works for pedal piano and orchestra, which my colleague David Hurwitz praised highly. Needless to say, Prosseda’s masterful technique and innate idiomatic flair bring each and every piece to characterful life. And let’s not forget the marvelously attuned ensemble repartee and precision between Prosseda and Enrico Pompili in the Sonata. Decca’s resplendent engineering and Gounod biographer Gérard Condé’s informative booklet notes further seal my enthusiastic recommendation.

-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday

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Charles Gounod (17 June 1818 – 17 October or 18 October 1893) was a French composer. He attended the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied under Fromental Halévy and Pierre Zimmerman. Gounod is best known for his Ave Maria, based on a work by Bach, as well as his opera Faust; another opera by Gounod still performed is Roméo et Juliette. Though his reputation began to fade even before he died, he is still generally regarded as a major figure in nineteenth century French music. Stylistically, he was a conservative whose influence nevertheless extended to Bizet, Saint-Saëns, and Massenet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Gounod

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/charles-gounod-mn0000153981/biography

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Roberto Prosseda (born 1975) is an Italian classical pianist. He studied at the Conservatorio Ottorino Respighi in Latina, the Accademia Pianistica "Incontri col Maestro" in Imola and the International Piano Foundation in Cadenabbia (Lake Como, Italy), and has won major prizes in several piano competitions. Prosseda is particularly noted for his performances of newly discovered works by Felix Mendelssohn. He also dedicated the early part of his career to the discovery of piano works by several neglected Italian composers. Prosseda is a radio host on RAI, an author and a producer of documentaries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Prosseda
https://www.robertoprosseda.com/

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