Jean Françaix - Piano Concertino; Ballet Music (Thierry Fischer)

Information

Composer: Jean Françaix

• (01) Le malheurs de Sophie
• (11) Concertino for piano and orchestra in F major
• (15) Les bosquets de Cythère

Philippe Cassard, piano

Ulster Orchestra

Thierry Fischer, conductor

Date: 2004

Label: Hyperion

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67384

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY:  9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

What’s not to like? The ballet Les malheurs de Sophie perfectly suits Jean Françaix’s insouciant style, with a plot that concerns the misadventures of a little girl and her mother’s futile attempts to persuade her to behave. The music is child-like without ever becoming childish, full of fun and wit, and conductor Thierry Fischer captures its vivacious charm as well as we have any right to expect–aided in no small degree by the crisp response of the Ulster Orchestra. Philippe Cassard offers similar qualities of appealing lightness as soloist in the delightful Concertino for piano and orchestra, while Les bosquets de Cythère (not officially designated a ballet but certainly danceable) neatly combines the Viennese waltz with touches of jazz. Music so agreeably appealing needs no further comment from me, and when the performances are as idiomatic and perky as these, captured in such fine sound, the disc becomes self-recommending. Good clean fun!

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

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Jean Françaix (23 May 1912, in Le Mans – 25 September 1997, in Paris) was a French composer and pianist. He studied at the Conservatoires in Le Mans and Paris, and was considered one of the best students of Nadia Boulanger. Although an accomplished pianist and often played his own works, Françaix's primary occupation was his extraordinarily active compositional career. He remained prolific throughout his life, writing over 200 pieces in a wide variety of styles. Françaix wrote pieces in many of the major large musical forms, including concerti, symphonies, opera, ballet, as well as numerous chamber works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Françaix

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Thierry Fischer (born 28 September 1957) is a Swiss orchestra conductor and flutist. He studied flute with Aurèle Nicolet and began his musical career as Principal Flute in Hamburg and at the Zurich Opera. His conducting career began in his 30s, conducting his first concerts with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Fischer was principal conductor of the Ulster Orchestra (2001-2006) and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (2006-2012). Outside of Europe, he has served as chief conductor of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra (2008-2011) and music director of the Utah Symphony (since 2009).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thierry_Fischer
http://www.thierryfischer.com/

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