Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un faune by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was first performed on December 22, 1894 and it definitely was one of the works that serves as a steppingstone for 20th century repertoire. Mallarmé, the poet who in 1866 completed the Églogue on which Debussy’s music was based, had only praise to offer:

“I just came out of the concert, extremely moved: a marvel! your illustration of l’Après-midi d’un faune would present no dissonance with my text, unless to go further, indeed, into the nostalgia and the light, with finesse, with malaise, with richness.”

Alain Marion performs a very interesting version, for flute and piano, here…

When Bach writes for solo strings, whether violin or cello, he seems to bring music to its purest essence. For me, one of the most inspiring moments of his Suites for solo violin remains his Chaconne, last movement of his Suite in D minor.

It is here performed by James Ehnes…

When Liszt’s name is heard, most people think of fireworks and passagework impossible to perform if you’re not a superhero. But Liszt is so much more interesting in his lyrical vein, like for example in Petrarch’s Sonnet No. 104, taken from his Années de pélerinage.

This is one piece pianist André Laplante often performs as an encore, much to our delight.

The translation of the poem reads as follow:

I cannot wage, yet know not peace;
I fear, I hope, I burn, I freeze again;
Mount to the skies, then bow to earth my face;
Grasp the whole world, yet nothing can obtain.
Pris’ner of one who deigns not to detain,
I am not made his own, nor giv’n release.
Love slays me not, nor yet will he unchain;
Nor life allot, nor stop my harm’s increase.

Sightless I see my fair; though mute, I mourn;
I scorn existence, yet I court its stay;
Detest myself, and for another burn;
By grief I’m nurtured; and, though tearful, gay;
Death I despise, and life alike I hate:
Such, lady, do you make my wretched state!

To listen…

I have known and loved the Franck’s sonata for more years that I can remember but had never heard the Lekeu Violin Sonata before I got to spend some time in the recording studio with brothers Alain and David Lefèvre. From the first time I heard the piece, I just fell in love, deeply, madly…

To listen…

I’m leaving you for about 10 days to ride the waves but, rest assured, I will be with you in spirit… While I’m gone, I’ll be sharing with you some of my favourite albums. Why not start the whole thing by a new reading of the ever classic Summertime, as performed by Tiger Okoshi and Lorraine Desmarais? You can also hear the two of them, live, at Club Soda, here…