Topic: Louise Farrenc

[SonicMan46]

Well, time to bring this thread TTT after a year in hibernation - 

Just acquired and am now listening to the disc below - Piano Trios & Sextet w/ the Linos Ensemble (who also perform in her Piano Quintets on CPO); comments about her life & career made previously.  This disc was recommended in the GMG forum and also has received a strong endorsement from Scott on Amazon HERE!

So, any new experiences or acquisitions of Farrenc's music to discuss or recommend? 

[jhar26]

I recently bought the two CPO discs with the symphonies and overtures. She's very good in my opinion. Personally I'm impressed the most with symphony No.2.

[SonicMan46]

I recently bought the two CPO discs with the symphonies and overtures. She's very good in my opinion. Personally I'm impressed the most with symphony No.2.

Glad to see this thread come to life again!     Still own the 4 discs posted previously - have not checked to see 'what' new may have appeared in the interim, but would be curious!   

[Josquin des Prez]

That was not a normal thing for a woman in that time.

It was as normal then as it is now.

[SonicMan46]

Below is a post that I just left in the 'listening thread' - thought a duplication here would be appropriate:

Farrenc, Louise (1804-1875) - Piano Works w/ Konstanze Eickhorst (recorded in 2002); rather brief Fanfare review from 2004, which I find rather dismissive & chauvinistic, but I don't know the reviewer that well - this is my 6th disc of Farrenc's music (all on the CPO label); the playing is persuasive and sympathetic, and the sound recording of the piano excellent.  The music is quite pleasant and varied - no not Chopin or Liszt (or other males of the time), but Louise was a MAJOR female composer in the 19th century, a difficult accomplishment - for those getting into Clara & Fanny, this gal is certainly another consideration for this era - 

 

FARRENC  Air russe varié, op. 17. Piano Etudes, op. 26/19, 7, 4, 10, 8, 30, 3, 12. Valse brillante, op. 48. Nocturne, op. 49. Variations brillantes, op. 15  •  Konstanze Eickhorst (pf)  •  cpo 999 879-2 (60:00)
  Paris born Louise Farrenc (1804–1875)—her married name; she was born Jeanne–Louise Dumont—was a pianist and a teacher, so it’s not surprising that the music here is idiomatically written for the instrument, and is very sympathetically played by Konstanze Eickhorst, who has been well recorded.
  Put simply, Farrenc’s music, certainly this choice from it, is pleasing without suggesting itself as particularly individual or memorable. One could cite Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Chopin as all being in there somewhere; or one can borrow the booklet note’s mention of Hummel, Moscheles, and Reicha—the latter was Farrenc’s teacher—as another group of references.
  I imagine that anyone with a very specific interest in the piano and the era in which Farrenc lived will find this an attractive release. Otherwise, this likeable, fluently written music will pass an hour pleasantly. Colin Anderson

[Ten thumbs]

Below is a post that I just left in the 'listening thread' - thought a duplication here would be appropriate:

Farrenc, Louise (1804-1875) - Piano Works w/ Konstanze Eickhorst (recorded in 2002); rather brief Fanfare review from 2004, which I find rather dismissive & chauvinistic, but I don't know the reviewer that well - this is my 6th disc of Farrenc's music (all on the CPO label); the playing is persuasive and sympathetic, and the sound recording of the piano excellent.  The music is quite pleasant and varied - no not Chopin or Liszt (or other males of the time), but Louise was a MAJOR female composer in the 19th century, a difficult accomplishment - for those getting into Clara & Fanny, this gal is certainly another consideration for this era - 

 

Thank you for posting this. I don't have this CD but its on my list. Its a pity that none of her piano music is available on IMSLP, even more so as many of her editions of CPE Bach's sonatas can be found there. The work she and her husband did in rescuing work from that earlier period is something we should be forever grateful for.

[snyprrr]

Well, I'd like to revive this thread on Louise Farrenc (1804-1875), who I've just discovered - must have missed this thread on its first appearance, but a month or so back, I acquired the Piano Quintets, Op. 30 & 31 - just marvelous on the CPO label; so decided to obtain some more of her orchestral compositions, i.e. the Symphonies, Nos. 1-3 & Overtures, also on CPO w/ the ever productive Goritzki!  Listening to these CDs while typing - symphonies composed in the 1840s!

Amazing gal - brilliant pianist, excellent teacher (only female professor in the 19th century @ the Paris Conservatoire), and composer of about 50 works w/ Opus numbers - sad personal life w/ an only daughter dying to TB in her early 30s (an outstanding pianist & budding composer) - short but good Wiki Article HERE - the CPO liner notes are extensive & excellent!

I'd like to acquire some more chamber works & also some solo piano compositions - so bring on the recommendations, please! 


 

 

I was just listening to a few mvmts. from that PQ disc. I definitely noticed a 'professional' quality in the piano writing, and the pieces certainly have vitality: accomplished, I would call it; but, the memorability factor is missing for me. Still, very solid writing. Thankfully, the gender factor wasn't an issue whilst listening, but now, I'm thinking about it, and I must say, that my initial reaction was nice, neat, and tidy, and professional/businesslike,... very pruned and picked,... maybe fussy?? I don't know, perhaps one can hear her femininity in the music?

Still, I neeeed BigTunes!

[Ten thumbs]

I was just listening to a few mvmts. from that PQ disc. I definitely noticed a 'professional' quality in the piano writing, and the pieces certainly have vitality: accomplished, I would call it; but, the memorability factor is missing for me. Still, very solid writing. Thankfully, the gender factor wasn't an issue whilst listening, but now, I'm thinking about it, and I must say, that my initial reaction was nice, neat, and tidy, and professional/businesslike,... very pruned and picked,... maybe fussy?? I don't know, perhaps one can hear her femininity in the music?

Still, I neeeed BigTunes!

I can see your point about big tunes but if you want big tunes from a lady that do stick in your mind, try Alice Mary Smith. One thing I don't agree on though is that in all my investigation of music by woman I find them in general to be more direct, more emotional and far less fussy than the men.

[Grazioso]

I was just listening to a few mvmts. from that PQ disc. I definitely noticed a 'professional' quality in the piano writing, and the pieces certainly have vitality: accomplished, I would call it; but, the memorability factor is missing for me. Still, very solid writing. Thankfully, the gender factor wasn't an issue whilst listening, but now, I'm thinking about it, and I must say, that my initial reaction was nice, neat, and tidy, and professional/businesslike,... very pruned and picked,... maybe fussy?? I don't know, perhaps one can hear her femininity in the music?

Still, I neeeed BigTunes!

Try the symphonies, which can sound rather Beethovenian in their vigor, assertiveness, and drama--no doilies or needlework in sight. They are, dare I say, rather macho

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/KYIX21blNmE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/KYIX21blNmE</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fnqcw8cE0zA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/Fnqcw8cE0zA</a>

[Leo K.]

I am enjoying, thanks to this forum, the music of Louise Farrenc immensely!

I've heard the 1st symphony so far from this recording:



And the Piano Quintet no.1 in A minor.



The music is very articulate and romantic in the grand sense. The sound of her musical construction and melodic material capture my attention.

[SonicMan46]

Farrenc - TTT after 9 years - WOW! 

Starting the 'Fs' in my classic collection review - have added the first two CDs below (now up to a half dozen, most shown in previous posts): 1) Nonet, Op. 38 & Clarinet Trio, Op. 44 w/ Consortium Classicum (review attached); and 2) Piano Quintets, Op. 30 & 31 w/ Quintetto Bottesini - this recording replaced my older one with the Linos Ensemble; the newer one is from 2013 and sound/performance superb (excellent review); Farrenc uses a double bass in place of a violin in these quintets.  The Violin Sonatas, Op. 37 & 39 are playing on Spotify at the moment and quite enjoyable.  Looking on Amazon, there are some options in the Symphonies, although the Goritzki discs which I own are fine to my ears.  There were also some new 'piano recordings' with Biliana Tzinlikova and Joanne Polk - will have to listen on Spotify, both available.  Dave

   

[SonicMan46]

Well, there was some renewed interest in Louise Farrenc in the 'listening thread' the last few days which prompted me to visit Amazon to see if anything 'new' may have appeared - also, I listened to the Wind Sextet/Trios shown below on Spotify this morning (good review attached), however, the 2-CD set contains just 80+mins of music, an additional trio could have been added easily - in addition, my Linos Ensemble CD has the Sextet/Two Trios (one the same) at 79 mins!

But I went ahead and ordered the other 2 CDs (reviews also included in the attachment) - on the piano disc, Dubins absolutely raved about the music and Joanne Polk's performance - so ups my collection to 8 CDs (one is an MP3 DL).  I could have put this post in the 'purchases thread' but likely would have disappeared quickly w/ few if any comments; here, at least those coming to this thread will see the additional recordings and the reviews.  Dave

   

[Papy Oli]

Farrenc is being mentioned in one of the interviews by Presto this week :

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8018771--jeanne-louise-farrenc-nonet-clarinet-trio

[Jo498]

The mentions of Farrenc made me listen to the cpo disc with piano quintets and I was very pleasantly surprised. I must have listened to that disc a few times years ago but did not remember much about it. I have only one more CD, again cpo/Linos with sextet and trios and another trio coupled with Berwald but I'll listen to them in the next few days. For some reason I thought I should have the nonet (because I am comparably fond of such mixed chamber music) but apparently I never got around buying a recording or it is shelved differently because of a coupling.