Search - Gabriel Faure, Kathryn Stott :: Fauré Piano Music / Kathryn Stott

Heart-meltingly lovely

Stan Vernooy | Henderson, NV | 02/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like a lot of superficial classical music lovers, my regular diet of keyboard listening was limited to Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven, and the occasional Brahms, Debussy, Schubert and Mozart. Faure has always been considered a comparatively minor composer, known mostly for his Requiem. Well, if you're in the same category I was, and if you take joy in the discovery of beautiful music you haven't heard before, PLEASE buy this record! The beauty and subtlety of Faure's piano music is hard to describe. It's often rhythmically complex, but the complex rhythms don't reach out and shake the listener by the lapels. You're just aware of an undercurrent of motion which keeps the music flowing beautifully and effortlessly. Most of the great masterworks of music are described by talking about their excitement, inventiveness, majesty, power, or similar words. Faure's piano music, as represented on this album, doesn't appear to me to be definable in those terms. It seems that Faure was intent on composing music which would approach the ideal of sheer beauty, with no consideration given to any other quality.The pianist, Kathryn Stott, is very much like the composer she is playing: less glamorous and well-known than many others, and yet she produces irreproachable performances of deep understanding and love for the music. When the last note has died away, you will emit a sigh of satisfaction, and then immediately reach for the "repeat" button on your CD player. Believe me, honestly, you want this recording!"

Passion, with Restraint

bibliomane01 | 07/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Faure's celebrated Requiem is a staple of the concert hall and the Pavane Op. 50 and "Pelleas et Melisande" music are justly famous, but his piano works constitute a treasure of great music that is sadly neglected and simply begs to be brought before a wider audience. In this marvellous disc, Kathryn Stott establishes herself as a profound and versatile advocate of this reclusive master. From the gentle and graceful Barcarolles, the sunny and enchanting Impromptus to the divine Sixth Nocturne and the shattering Nocturne No. 13 in B Minor, we are taken on an unforgettable musical journey through the restrained passion that is the genius of Gabriel Faure. Please excuse my purple prose - I'm tripping over it on my way to buy the full 4-CD Faure/Stott Hyperion set."

Breathtakingly Beautiful

Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 04/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gabriel Faure [1845-1924] was just as under-appreciated as a composer outside his native France during his lifetime as he is today. A main reason for this is that Faure did not compose music that compelled the public's attention: no grand symphonies, no daring operas (save one), no virtuostic concertos and no piano sonatas of epic scale.



Rather, he prefered the more intimate musical forms - songs, chamber ensemble and smaller piano pieces more fitting for the Parisian parlor than the grand concert halls . Yet, his output is large (121 opuses) and of high quality. His Requiem is the most poignantly beautiful and hopeful ever composed. His numerous compositions for piano alone eclipse both his peers, Debussy and Ravel, and require 4 CD's to fit it all (Stott's Complete Piano Music on Hyperion).



In its essence, Faure's music is much like the man: humble in conception, gentle in tone, balanced in expression, creative in artistry, and graceful in its manners. In France his music has always been reveared. But, to the superficial observer looking for theatre and unbridled (German) romanticism, his music appears somewhat superficial and uneventful. Clearly Faure did not embrace the romantic excesess of his day, and his music needs to be heard in that context. But, to those who value such traits, Faure's music is wonderous and deeply satisfying.



But, beheath the quintessential French elegance lies deceptively difficult music far beyond mere "salon indulgance." While Faure's music was rooted in the classical masters, he clearly embraced the future. His piano compositions are pure, elegant and balanced within a new, exciting and expansive harmonic landscape often refered to as "Faurean harmonies." His piano music is the essence of french urbanity and civility within a highly creative pallate of tone colors. It is not overtly flamboyant and virtusotic (like Liszt) ... nor is it epic or heroic (like Beethoven) ... nor dripping in memorable and easily recognized melodies (like Mozart or Schubert) .. nor does it possess the frivolous charm of Chabrier or the pure simplicity of Erik Satie or the naievity of John Field's earlier Nocturnes. Sometimes Faure's piano compositions sound somewhat akin to Chopin or Schumann - but possessing a curiously-different harmonic palate that is uniquely Faure. Especially unique are the late works which possess an increasing harmonic creativity and unpredictability that is at once beautiful and fascinating in conception but also ellusive and uneasy in its intent and emotional impact.



This CD is a very attractive sampling of Kathryn Stott's monumental 4-CD set of Faure's Complete Piano Music (Penguin Rosette winner). The program encompasses Faure's long life of 79 years starting with his more innocent and charming pieces through the highly introspective, austere and desolate late compositions by a now-deaf and emotionally isolated composer. Again, shunning the romantic program of the day, Faure chose plain titles like Nocturnes, Barcarolles and Impromptus rather than the descriptive, programmic titles of his peers. Faure's Nocturnes are richly expressive and often Chopinesque in their lithe, dreamy horizons and tempestuous episodes. The first is magnificant with its resigned and ominous moods so prevelent in Faure's late style. No. 3 shows Faure's admiration for Chopin's extraverted charm and refinement where No. 6's sublime perfection makes it one of the masterpieces of French piano music. But, the tragegy and emotive depth of Faure's final (13th) Nocturne makes it a work of epic proportions akin to Schubert's and Beethoven's final works. Completely different from the Nocturnes are the lighter and more fluid Barcarolles which reveal Faure in his sunniest moods. Both featured here are pure delicacy - ripe with refined with French beauty. The two Impromptus are also brilliant creations that ripple with complex and expressive pianism. The Op. 84 "Huit peices breves" were composed throughout his life and are various "Schumann-like" miniatures that possess a wide and attractive range of emotive tones and musicality. Every single piece on this disc is suptuous and glorious in its conception and effect. They show Faure as a master of nuance and perfector of his compositions (which were highly "polished" like Ravel's music).



Kathryn Stottt is one of today's greatest exponents of Faure's music and turns in an outstanding recording that ranks at the top. Ms. Stott specializes in the solo piano and chamber repertoire of Faure and the French romantic era. Such a focus shows here with her elegant, refined playing matching perfectly with Faure's understated, urbane mannerisms. While I cannot compare her approach directly with others who have recorded this music, my musical sense is that she finds the right emotive core and Faurean spirit within these pieces as their impact on the me was strong and inspiring. Perhaps on occasion she takes a little edge off Faure's darker moments (fine by me), but overall her playing here is wonderous to my ears. Like Faure was noted for, Stott coaxes with nuance rather than shouts with bravura to make her point. Her poised playing is well served by an outstanding Hyperion recording which has an optimal resonance and soundstage that really brings out the velvety tones in her piano. I really like the recording quality here - its as perfect as any Hyperion CD I have heard.



Faure's understated but highly musical composing combined with Ms. Stott's pristine pianism make for a warmly recommend disc to all who are more attracted to classical music's graceful subtleties than its bombastic virtuosities. The five pages of detailed music notes greatly add to a most rewarding musical discovery and listening experience. Like others below note, the only minor regret some will have is not getting the four-CD set from the start as it contains many added gems of equal significance as these highlights here. A surprize favorite and a most treasured and frequently played recording in my collection. Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound - 5 stars."