Ravel: Music for four Hands

Hailed as "one of perhaps half a dozen pianists who it is worth dropping everything to go and hear" (Daily Telegraph, London), Canadian pianist Louis Lortie has been praised for the fresh perspective and individuality he brings to a deliberately broad spectrum of the keyboard canon.

Awards:
Penguin Guide ***
Penguin Guide Rosette

French Impressions

“Impressive playing from the extrovert and intelligent Kolly d'Alba. She gives her all in the hothouse Romanticism of Saint-Saens and is sensitive to the mesmerism of Chausson's Poème and Ravel's Tzigane.” --BBC Music Magazine, December 2011 ****

“The way she gently eases into the magical final section of Saint-Saens' Violin Concerto's slow movement is unforgettable, so too her beguilingly seductive handling of Ravel's volatile gypsy inflections and introspectively dreamy Chausson. Apart from the slightly claustrophobic sound in the Saint-Saens, this is a perfect showcase for a young player whose musical insights are of the higest calibre.” --Classic FM Magazine, November 2011 ****

“Rachel Kolly d'Alba's playing immediately grabs our attention. Passionate commitment to the music, rich tone and constantly varied expression combine to leave a powerful, memorable impression...while stressing the dramatic and colourful side of each work, her interpretations are well balanced and persuasive, too.” --Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2011

“Kolly d'Alba is a fearless, passionate and responsive violinist, although her power (as recorded) may be too strong for Saint-Saens's delightful concerto. She can charm though, as the enchanting central movement demonstrates.” --International Record Review, January 2012

Debussy & Ravel: Music for Two Pianos

“Ashkenazy père et fils… clearly having much fun, especially in Rapsodie espagnol, drawing a wide range of colour, and some wonderfully delicate shading.” --BBC Music Magazine ***

“Father and son join forces here with winning élan. Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of the great pianists of modern times, with a legacy of landmark solo and concerto recordings to challenge anybody’s. His son Vovka has inherited the genes and, on disc, has collaborated in performances of chamber music by Tchaikovsky, Arensky, Poulenc and Ravel.” --The Telegraph ****

Vladimir Ashkenazy seemed intent on recording everything in the standard repertoire when he was at the height of his solo piano career in the 1970s. Inevitably, critics would arise to express doubt that one musician could cover so much material so fast, and get it right. One of his contemporaries, the even more prolific conductor Neville Marriner, heard the same complaints. For this listener, the charges do not really hold up in either case. I will admit that there are few cases where I would choose a recording by these artists for my desert-island collection (you know, that wonderful island that happens to be equipped with a state of the art, solar-powered stereo system), even as I continue to marvel at their consistent level of excellence. I think I would be perfectly happy, though, to have Ashkenazy’s Chopin on the island, which, by virtue of his extraordinary dexterity, clarity, and natural pulse is as good as any other. It is true that Ashkenazy can “prettify” some music, Beethoven, for example, but that may be partially due to the naturally beautiful finish to his technique.

With this program of Debussy and Ravel, it is hard to make the music too pretty. The Ashkenazy sound suits this lush, delicately textured music well. This is my first encounter with the son of famed Vladimir. Vovka Ashkenazy was born in Moscow, and moved to Iceland with his family at the age of six. His teachers included Leon Fleisher, Peter Frankl, and his father. His brother Dmitri is also a professional pianist. From what I can tell, his growing discography is dominated by chamber music playing, including a previous father and son outing, also from Decca. It is not easy to differentiate between the pianists on this recording, which can be taken as a high compliment to Vovka Ashkenazy. They achieve a high level of clarity and precise coordination, just the ticket for a four-hand piano recital. The closer, La valse, is no less controlled, but with the requisite raucousness to show that the Ashkenazy family knows how to have some fun. --FANFARE: Peter Burwasser

MP3 320 · 149 MB

Ravel, Debussy & Dutilleux: String Quartets

“The interpretation of the Debussy Quartet has sinew and propulsion, with that apt shading of dynamics and subtlety of nuance that have become hallmarks of the Arcanto's distinctive and distinguished style. Delicacy and fluency are equally embraced in this commanding performance, as they are in the Ravel” --Gramophone Magazine, November 2010

“A "super-group" among quartets, with each player an established soloist, the Arcanto Quartet's intonation is faultless, its blend fresh and exciting.” --The Independent on Sunday, September 2010

“Right at the start, the performance of the Debussy quartet is a striking example of the Arcanto’s skill and stylistic perception. The playing has muscle, incisiveness and drive, tempered by delicacy of nuance...It is a riveting disc – a further manifestation of the Arcanto’s blend of finesse, flair and probing intelligence.” The Telegraph, 20th August 2010 *****

“With their velvet tone the starry Arcanto Quartet prove ideal performers. Often the heartbeat is in the cello (Jean-Guihen Queyras, exceptionally eloquent); but whoever throbs, the music soars...A lovely disc.” The Times, 28th August 2010 ****

MP3 320 · 156 MB

Ravel, Debussy & Massenet: Piano and Orchestral Works

“the interpretations catch the ear with their blend of subtle phrasing, polish and unanimous zest...A group of charming solo piano miniatures by Massenet complements and at times connects with the styles of Debussy and Ravel, and Bavouzet plays them beautifully.” --Gramophone

“The ebullient French pianist Bavouzet scales the heights in this splendid and generous CD with the BBC Symphony Orchestra...The G major bounces along, though, with reflective asides not forgotten. In the Concerto for Left Hand, Bavouzet winningly balances the grandiose and jazzy.” --The Times ****

“[Bavouzet] turns in a performance of the Fantaisie that illuminates this uneven yet magical work like no other. As to the Ravel concertos, I have no hesitation in saying these are the greatest performances I have ever heard. The G major is a sharp as a razor, achingly lyrical when required and, above all, fun...The 'Left Hand', helped by Tortelier's incisive conducting is simply awe-inspiring.” --Classic FM *****

MP3 320 · 166 MB

Debussy · Fauré · Ravel: Piano Trios

'PICK OF THE MONTH' - BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
CRITICS' CHOICE - FANFARE

'It's a lovely recital; I've never been so convinced that the Debussy's worth hearing, and the Ravel is full of delicate delights.' --BBC Music Magazine

'Beautifully wrought performances. Rendered with natural empathy and graceful ensemble-playing, the Florestan’s playing is quite glorious' --Fanfare, USA

'A delightful grouping of French trios from the Gramophone Award-winning Florestan's, who breathe fresh life into these works ... top of my list.' --Gramophone

'Such flair proves the Florestan Trio, if proof is needed, to be among the finest chamber ensembles of the present day. Outstandingly imaginative performances, finely recorded' --Classic CD

MP3 320 · 141 MB

Prokofiev: Cinderella Suite; Ravel: Ma Mère l'Oye

Two megastar pianists in glittering duo arrangements: this is enthralling

Listening to this inspired disc is like eaves-dropping on two of the great pianists of our time playing for their own pleasure, oblivious of microphones and without a trace of self-consciousness. How Argerich likes to revisit old favourites, here joining with Pletnev to invest Ravel's Mother Goose (which she recorded for DG with Nelson Freire and added exotic percussion, 10/97) with the utmost warmth and playful bravura beneath an insouciant Gallic surface.

But the main attraction is a delectable surprise: Pletnev's arrangement for two pianos of music from Prokofiev's Cinderella, described in Peter Cosse's booklet-note as 'a pianistic pas de deux...that is essentially an appeal — understated and rebellious by turns — on behalf of the oppressed and underprivileged'.

MP3 320 · 110 MB