Search - Erik Satie, Alexandre Tharaud, Eric le Sage :: Erik Satie: Avent dernières pensées

COMPLEXLY SPLENDID!

Kerry Leimer | Makawao, Hawaii United States | 05/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having chased releases of Satie's work for many years and having experienced many shades of disappointment, this is finally and by far the most satisfying, thoughtful, entertaining and lovely set of performances one could expect to hear, by a long shot. Full of nuance, humor and detail -- even a casual listening reveals an atypical approach to establishing the soundstage: the sort of "music hall" pieces actually exhibit a kind of music hall ambience -- in performances that animate not just the music, but the compositional conception of the music.



Only one negative. The liner notes bemoan some people for liking the Gymnopédies for the "wrong reasons". Of course, the right reasons are not given. One should certainly note the degree of comprehension a listener might demonstrate, and encourage that comprehension to grow. And, even after decades of listening to many forms of music, I'm not sure that I would have the right reasons for liking Satie either. There's the humor, the seemingly casual yet incredibly detailed constructs, the self-parody and parody of other forms, moments of understatement, moments of overstatement, their brevity and absence of useless ornament, the puns, calm set beside the animated, recognizable and familiar harmonies in unusual juxtaposition. Of course, these reasons in and of themselves do not constitute my experience of the music, no matter how many might be right, and how many might be wrong.



So, all our many, varied, right and wrong reasons aside, it's a measure of the value and distinctiveness of Satie's work that artists return to the compositions again and again, teasing out more and more of what makes these pieces so profoundly unique and so engaging, both emotionally and intellectually. And Tharaud's interpretations are easily the finest I have yet to hear.



"

Elegant, Witty, and Most Enjoyable

I. Martinez-Ybor | Miami, FL USA | 04/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Marvelous pianist Alexandre Tharaud keeps turning out jewel after jewel of recorded music, not all of it French, there is remarkable Bach, delightful Chopin and quite beautiful Schubert. Now he gives us an ample selection of Satie: the first disc solo music, anchored by the 3 Gnosiennes, clean and pure, and the second of collaborations: some two-piano works with Eric LePage, chansons.... not with operatic voices as one normally hears (in the past Jessye Norman has been good at this) but, more properly, with the likes of chanteuse Juliette, who one realizes quickly has the "right" kind of voice for this music. There is a wide selection of music, some of it well-known, most of it not. We only get the first Gymnopedie, but that's fine.... by the time the third one gets around it sounds a bit tedious. The first is gorgeous. There's music for prepared piano.... long before John Cage (but not as playful), wonderful duets for piano and trumpet, piano and violin, the tender pieces well spaced with lively ones, all in warm, full, spacious sound. In short, the two CD set is a delight. Harmonia Mundi provides it with intelligent notes, an interview with Tharaud, photographs and beautiful packaging..... it's so rare one can say this about cd's these days. Mr. Tharaud is a pianist who has given us much: his Ravel, Rameau, Couperin, Milhaud, Poulenc in addition to this and what already has been mentioned, are all worth exploring. Keen mind, virtuosic technique that does not call attention to itself, subtle coloring, and a solid sense of musical structure coupled with a most engaging musicality make Mr. Tharaud a pianist to treasure. And now, a most persuasive advocate of the joys to be found in Eric Satie. Art that hides art."

Erick Satie

Richard A. Peterson | Rochester,Minnesota USA | 05/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My familiarity with the work of Satie was at best superficial. But I was familiar with his Gymnopadies and I wanted to explore a bit more in depth. I am so pleased that I did. I love this recording. It has a unique and timeless sound, and is very French in attitude. What an extrodinary musical talent Satie was. How satisfying it is to spend some time with a composer who has something to say, and that sticks with you."