Poulenc, Debussy, Ravel and Fauré: Chamber Music, Piano Music and Songs

[Drasko]

Did you ever  check this out?

No.

[DavidW]

Boy, I've owned a lot of chamber music of these composers for years and not even part of this thread until now, but just to respond to MI's request concerning the 4 discs he asked about, I just own the one w/ the Florestan Trio - for the Faure Piano Quartets - the Nash Ensemble & for his Piano Quintets - Quintetto di Roma + Ortiz w/ the Fine Arts Quartet.   

That Florestan Trio recording is one of my absolute favorite cds Dave.   Are the other ones you mentioned from the brilliant set?

[Mirror Image]

Boy, I've owned a lot of chamber music of these composers for years and not even part of this thread until now, but just to respond to MI's request concerning the 4 discs he asked about, I just own the one w/ the Florestan Trio - for the Faure Piano Quartets - the Nash Ensemble & for his Piano Quintets - Quintetto di Roma + Ortiz w/ the Fine Arts Quartet.   

Thanks, Dave, but I ended up buying both Hyperion discs of Faure's PQs. I also bought that disc of Faure, Ravel, and Debussy PTs with the Florestan Trio on Hyperion. In fact, I ended up buying all the recordings I was inquiring about.

[SonicMan46]

That Florestan Trio recording is one of my absolute favorite cds Dave.   Are the other ones you mentioned from the brilliant set?

Hi David - a listing of the performers in the Brilliant box can be found HERE - the Piano Quintets are indeed the same group, i.e. Quintetto Faure di Roma - however, the Piano Quartets are listed as performed by the Ames Piano Quartet.  The Nash Ensemble is in the box on several other performances.  Dave 

[DavidW]

Oh I see Dave, thanks!  You have indulged in multiple-recorditis for Faure it seems, cool.

So now let me ask which set do you like for his piano works?

[Scarpia]

Oh I see Dave, thanks!  You have indulged in multiple-recorditis for Faure it seems, cool.

So now let me ask which set do you like for his piano works?

There aren't that many choices for the complete set.  The Stott set is very fine, the sound is gorgeous, but I get annoyed that during one of the sessions the piano had a bad hammer that makes a little "ping" whenever a certain note is struck.  Tends to disrupt the flowing arpeggios.  There is the Collard, which is very fine but has EMI france sound which is a bit brittle.  Unfortunately the Doyen set on EMI is out of print and very yard to find.  I recently got the Hubeau set from Erato (Warner) but have not listened to it.  I resisted it because he was 80 when he recorded it and I was skeptical as to whether he could still be at his best.

[DavidW]

I think I would take consistently brittle to the "ping", your ears can adopt to the former but the other one will leave a sour note.

[Scarpia]

I think I would take consistently brittle to the "ping", your ears can adopt to the former but the other one will leave a sour note.

Oddly, others say they don't hear the "ping" at all.  I've made my peace with it.

[Herman]

I got the Heidsieck recordings of the Nocturnes and Barcarolles from hmv japan; also some Thyssens-Valentin on Testament, such as the wonderful op 103 Preludes

[snyprrr]

Boy, I've owned a lot of chamber music of these composers for years and not even part of this thread until now, but just to respond to MI's request concerning the 4 discs he asked about, I just own the one w/ the Florestan Trio - for the Faure Piano Quartets - the Nash Ensemble & for his Piano Quintets - Quintetto di Roma + Ortiz w/ the Fine Arts Quartet.   

What do you think of those Nash/CRD Piano Quartet recordings? I like the playing, but doesn't it seem like the strings of not so loud? I have a non-commercial recording by another group, which happens to be very 'present', and I hear so much more than on that CRD recording. Maybe I just have to turn it up, but, it's still not a very up front... the piano is closer. The Hyperion recording of the Piano Quintets is supernatural by comparison (though I will haaave to check out that di Roma recording: I think they may be the One for me).

[SonicMan46]

Oh I see Dave, thanks!  You have indulged in multiple-recorditis for Faure it seems, cool.

So now let me ask which set do you like for his piano works?

Good morning David - not sure if you're asking about the chamber works or now the 'solo' piano ones?  Actually, I've not really duplicated much of Faure except for the Piano Quintets - the Quintetto di Roma has been my 'gold standard' for years (and I've culled out a number of others previously) - I only bought the Ortiz recording because of a superlative review by Dubins in Fanfare HERE (and the Naxos price, of course - ) - decided to put both in the CD player now.

If you're interested in the solo piano works, Scarpia has added some discussion - I just have one set, Stott (inexpensive BRO purchase a while back), although Doyen has been on my 'wish list' for a long time, just not in print AFAIK?  Dave

[DavidW]

And no ping to your ears Dave?  That might settle it, I'll get the Stott at bro.  Well if they still have it when I place an order (not doing so now).

[SonicMan46]

And no ping to your ears Dave?  That might settle it, I'll get the Stott at bro.  Well if they still have it when I place an order (not doing so now).

Well, I just checked BRO (assume you did also), the Stott 4-disc is 'in stock' for only $24 - however, I've not listened to it in a while, so cannot confirm the 'ping' issue; on Amazon there is 1 'used' 4-disc set w/ Doyen going for $54 - no thanks!

Another set of historic performances that comes up on occasion are those of Germaine Thyssens-Valentine - Amazon has 3 discs of her doing Faure on the Testament label, but the price pretty much adds up to the Doyen box!

So, if you decide on the current 'bargain' box, then Stott is your obvious choice - if you decide on a purchase, then we can both try to hear the elusive 'ping' - but w/ my aural abilities I'd likely miss it?  May have Susan take a listen - she is a pianist w/ pretty much perfect pitch - Dave 

[George]

Oh I see Dave, thanks!  You have indulged in multiple-recorditis for Faure it seems, cool.

So now let me ask which set do you like for his piano works?

I have heard Stott, Valentin and Collard and Collard is my favorite, by far. Cheap and on Brilliant Classics, too!

[Herman]

I have heard Stott, Valentin and Collard and Collard is my favorite, by far. Cheap and on Brilliant Classics, too!

Eric Heidsieck is a fairly essential Fauré performer.

[Drasko]

Eric Heidsieck is a fairly essential Fauré performer.

I really have to get his Nocturnes when I next order from Japan, they've been on my wishlist for too long. Check out his complete Brahms op.118 on youtube, very interesting.

Of complete/partial sets I've heard Thyssens-Valentin is closest to my idea how should Faure sound.

[SonicMan46]

What do you think of those Nash/CRD Piano Quartet recordings? I like the playing, but doesn't it seem like the strings of not so loud? I have a non-commercial recording by another group, which happens to be very 'present', and I hear so much more than on that CRD recording. Maybe I just have to turn it up, but, it's still not a very up front... the piano is closer. The Hyperion recording of the Piano Quintets is supernatural by comparison (though I will haaave to check out that di Roma recording: I think they may be the One for me).

Snyprrr - just finished listening to the Nash recording on CRD on my den stereo (not sure if you are listening to web snippets or on what system?) - indeed, the piano is more 'up front' and can be at times dominant but the strings are there in the mix and not really backstage; still enjoy that recording but now I am curious about the Domus one on Hyperion - might add a second performance to my collection?   

[Mandryka]

Eric Heidsieck is a fairly essential Fauré performer.

I agree about the Nocturnes. He is by far the best modern recording I have heard in the 12 and 13.  I haven't heard his Barcarolles. And I'm very curious about the  recording of the Preludes. I like those preludes a lot (mostly I listen to Jean Doyen for them)

In his last ten years of his life there is some really fine instrumental music -- Op. 121 String Quartet in E minor, Op. 120 Piano Trio,  Nocturnes 12 and 13, the  Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 103 Préludes, maybe a couple of Barcarolles too. They are I think real summits of French music: I owe a thank you to Herman for his  enthusiastic advocacy.

By the way many of Thyssens-Valentin's CDs are out of copyright and can easily be found for free download.  Two other interesting pianist in this material is Marguerite Long and Madeleine de Valmalette. Ignace Tiegerman too.

[Herman]

In his last ten years of his life there is some really fine instrumental music -- Op. 121 String Quartet in E minor, Op. 120 Piano Trio,  Nocturnes 12 and 13, the  Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 103 Préludes, maybe a couple of Barcarolles too. They are I think real summits of French music: I owe a thank you to Herman for his  enthusiastic advocacy.

You're very welcome, I'm happy to hear that.

I love nocturne nr 9, too.

[Mirror Image]

This set is a favorite in my collection and played very often:

[asin]B00000632A[/asin]

That is one of my favorite sets of any chamber music. I linked this set earlier but nobody said much, if anything, about it. Glad to see somebody enjoys these Nash Ensemble performances as much as I do.