Search - Jean Francaix, Thierry Fischer, Ulster Orchestra :: Jean Françaix: Concertino for piano and orchestra; Les bosquets de Cythère; Les malheurs de Sophie

Charming Music by a French Master

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 05/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is the second in Hyperion's Jean Francaix series conducted by Thierry Fischer and played by the Ulster Orchestra. This disc holds the ballet Les malheurs de Sophie (The Misfortunes of Sophie) that was written in 1935 and based on a children's book by Sophie, Comtesse de Segur. The ballet consists of short dances and is divided into three tableaux. This was Jean Francaix's third ballet and, as one would expect from him, the music is beautifully scored and very carefree in mood. The subject of the ballet is three-year-old Sophie and her misadventures with a five-year-old cousin named Paul, and she gets into the kind of trouble that is typical of her age. The music is highly tuneful, sometimes depicting the lazy Sophie and then energetic as she sets off to create mischief. Like so much of Fraincaix's music this is a charming ballet that delights with its sense of humor and tenderness but probably has no melodies that one would consider memorable.



The Concertino for Piano and Orchestra is a better known work that is all too short. It was written by Jean Francaix for himself and he first performed it in 1934. The first movement is a perpetual movement with the piano playing brilliant run; the second movement takes on a reflective mood and reminds me of a lazy Sunday afternoon. The final movement has a dialogue between the piano and trumpet, then the flute that is flowed by the full orchestra playfully interplaying with the piano.



Les bousquets de Cythere (The Groves of Cytheria) are a suite of waltzes written in 1946. Cythera is associated with Aphrodite and was a subject much painted by French artists Watteau and Boucher, so the music looks far back to recall a bucolic and peaceful world after the horrors of the Second World War. They are tuneful, elegant waltzes that belong more to a ballet suite and are certainly a far cry from Johann Strauss Jr. The music on this CD is relaxing and light fare. I am reminded of Matisse's comment on his painting being a good armchair to a tired business man; so too Jean Francaix's music: easy to listen to and satisfying in mood.

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