FAURE: Piano Music - Angela Hewitt

Thème et variations Op 73[16'20]
1
Theme: Thème[1'58]
2
Variation 1: L'istesso tempo[0'58]
3
Variation 2: Più mosso[0'53]
4
Variation 3: Un poco più mosso[0'48]
5
Variation 4: L'istesso tempo[1'25]
6
Variation 5: Un poco più mosso[0'48]
7
Variation 6: Molto adagio[1'50]
8
Variation 7: Allegro moderato[0'53]
9
Variation 8: Andante molto moderato[1'27]
10
Variation 9: Quasi adagio[1'17]
11
Variation 10: Allegro vivo[1'16]
12
Variation 11: Andante molto, moderato espressivo[2'47]
13
Valse-caprice No 1 in A major Op 30[7'22]
14
Valse-caprice No 2 in D flat major Op 38[7'43]
15
Nocturne No 5 in B flat major Op 37[8'35]
16
Nocturne No 6 in D flat major Op 63[9'12]
17
Nocturne No 13 in B minor Op 119[8'29]
18
Ballade pour piano seul Op 19[15'07]

Angela Hewitt’s recordings of French piano music have received the highest critical acclaim, her ‘tenderness, Gallic wit, verve, and—the most important ingredient of all—charm’ proving perfect for works by Chabrier, Debussy, Ravel and indeed Rameau and Couperin. Now she turns to a composer who is more serious and introspective, with a refinement that has led to him being relatively overlooked by performers. But in Angela Hewitt’s hands this music is an utter joy.

This album includes the major work Thème et variations, Op 73—one of Faure’s greatest works for piano—and a selection of Valses-caprices and Nocturnes. It ends with a more radiant piece from Fauré’s youth, the earliest piece included on this recording—the Ballade pour piano seul, Op 19, dedicated to Saint-Saëns.