Search - Jean-Guihen Queyras, Alexandre Tharaud :: Debussy & Poulenc: Cello Sonatas

Invaluable Recital of French Delicacies

John Hopfensperger | Midland, MI | 06/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of these two masterful artists, Mr. Tharaud may be the more famous. (His recent disk of Chopin preludes, an award winner, has gained more attention than this present disk -- which is a pity, given the quality of artistry on display here.) He has recorded the Poulenc before (on the Naxos label), but he is here paired with a finer cellist. I've long adored Mr. Queyras' lithe tone and supple bowing, immensely enjoying his Bach suites in particular. But this is his first recording that I can recommend, without hyperbole, as definitive.



So lovingly do the two artists blend their burnished (and, when called for, exotic) sonorities in the Debussy sonata, they sound at times as a single instrument. Their unanimity of attack--of rhythm and style--is truly remarkable given their tremendous range of tempos and dynamics. And, while they approach the work rather freely, the artists never sound self-conscious in the least.



Poulenc's cello sonata is one of his better works. While not quite as wondrous as the Debussy, the performers treat it like a masterpiece, and the results are stunning. No matter what the music calls for--even with the cello pizzing softly against sustained piano chords--every note can be heard clearly, balanced to perfection.



Some of the composers' finest miniatures are interspersed throughout the recital -- including Poulenc's own transcription of his Suite française. The piano's thundering low notes in the Bagatelle in D minor are appropriately gruff, while "La plus que lente" has never sounded sexier. The acoustic is intimate, warm and detailed; the perfect match for these perfect performances.



This is a disk that you will return to again and again. A necessary acquisition!"