As reiterated in the past, I believe Faure's chamber music are all masterpieces. Especially, piano and string ensemble works. Probably 30 years ago, or even further back in the past, I have bought the CD of his two piano quintets played by Jean Hubeau, piano, and Quator Via Nova. It says it was recorded or the CD was manufactured in 1985. Their performance is not only lyrical but also passionate. One of the classics for these pieces for me as well as for the classic fans those days. Compared with the other modern perormances, it is still brilliant and touching.
I love his piano trio, string quartet, piano quartets or piano quintet Nr2. Hard to compare with them, piano quintet Nr1 is still the most favorite one for me. It was composed at the boundary of style in his life between early lyricism inherited from the Romantic school in Belle Epoch and later style succeeded to modern music, complicated, bitter and serious. It may be when he has started suffering from the auditory abnormality, which sounded higher pitch lower while lower pitch deviated to higher. With that dysunction lethal for a composer, he struggled to go on bringing forth the series of real masterpieces in his last chapter of life. I have not studied precisely about his pathography regarding his hearing abnormality but believe it was around the time of composing this quintet that he started suffering from it. It has, in my view, profoundly influenced on the composition.
In 2008, I had a chance to play the 1st movement of this piece with friends of mine in Tokyo. On the arpeggio, as with the other piano involved chamber music, the 2nd violin starts singing impressive lovely melody of simplicity which is transferred to cello and later the other instruments. We were just playing it for enjoyment but not for performance before audience at all. Still, what a joy for me! I only wished we had had more than a couple of rehearsals we actually made. I am still thankful to the gang playing it with me. An irreplaceable memory for me.
I wished to play it with some friends. Seemingly no chance ahead. I have handed the part scores to a good friend of mine, a violinist, hoping she and her group may realize it to rendition some day. It is the score of dream for me. Luckily, the CD mentioned above is not deteriorated like the other old CDs. I will go on listening it in the rest of my life. A piece to farewell to youth in my life as well.
I found several recordings of piano quintet 1 on Spotify, but not that one. I listened to a version by Pascal Roge and Quatuor Ysaye. The first movement in particular is very moving and technically brilliant, though I'm no musician. The cello part seems difficult. Thanks for introducing me to this work. I will listen to it often.
ReplyDeleteI am very pleased to know you have enjoyed this one. Yes, it is not easy for an amateur cellist. Especially, the 2nd movement with tricky rhythm of syncopation. You have a wide range of repertoire of listening! I have never listened to that Roge/Ysaye. But they are well known Faure players and it should be a fine rendition.
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