Gabriel Pierné - Impressions de music-hall; Fantaisie basque; Izeÿl (Bramwell Tovey)

Information

Composer: Gabriel Pierné

• Impressions de music-hall, ballet suite
• Fantaisie basque sur des themes populaires basques espagnols
• Izeÿl, suite from an Indian drama
• Divertissement sur un thème pastoral

Philippe Koch, violin

Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Date: 2006

Label: Timpani

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Gabriel Pierné was a very good composer, but this disc illustrates why he may not receive the attention he deserves on the concert platform. As you might expect, Impressions de music-hall is charming, humorous, and even sassy. Fantasie basque, for violin and orchestra, follows the pattern of Saint-Saëns’ Spanish-tinged works for violin and orchestra, and it’s well played by soloist Philippe Koch. Izéÿl is a suite of incidental music full of Orientalism embodied in exotic scales and prominent passages for harp and celesta. Divertissements sur un thème pastoral is absolutely delicious, a fabulously inventive theme and variations. It was recorded by Martinon for Erato.

So what’s the problem? Well, there isn’t one really, save that Pierné’s very flexibility results in what you might call a “generic French” quality to his music. He didn’t have Ravel’s individuality of style, for example, but then Pierné’s range of reference is, in my view, a bit wider. Even if you can’t pick out a particular moment and say, “Aha! That couldn’t be anyone else,” the fact is that this is all very well-written music, a joy from first note to last. Bramwell Tovey and the Luxembourg orchestra turn out to be reliable guides to Pierné’s multifaceted musical personality, offering performances full of color and, where necessary, panache. They are also beautifully recorded, making this an important addition to the discography of an underappreciated composer.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/may06/Pierne_Impressions_IC1096.htm

https://www.amazon.com/Impressions-Music-Hall-Fantaisie-Basque-Pour/dp/B000E6GDYM

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Gabriel Pierné (16 August 1863 – 17 July 1937) was a French composer, conductor, pianist and organist. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire; his teachers included Antoine François Marmontel, Albert Lavignac, Émile Durand, César Franck and Jules Massenet. He succeeded Franck as organist at Sainte-Clotilde Basilica in Paris from 1890 to 1898. Pierné wrote several operas, choral and symphonic pieces as well as a good deal of chamber music. He also made a few electrical recordings for Odeon Records, from 1928 to 1934. Pierné was also known for his discovery and promotion of the work of Ernest Fanelli.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Pierné

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Bramwell Tovey (11 July 1953 – 12 July 2022) was a British conductor and composer. He was educated the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. In 1978 he became Music Director of Scottish Ballet, and, from 1984 to 1988, Principal Conductor of Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet. Tovey was the music director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (1989–2001), the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (2000–2018), the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra (2002–2006), and the BBC Concert Orchestra (2018–2022). He was also known as a composer of orchestral and choral music, operas, as well as film scores.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bramwell_Tovey

https://www.bramwelltovey.com/

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