I found this rather best up old record on a recent trip to the Goodwill. After transferring it and cleaning it up a bit, (Sacqueboutier is sooooo right about the value of ClickRepair!) the resulting product proved quite lietenable and I'm glad for that! This ravishing and lush music receives an exquisite performance by Emma Boynet, a performer that I knew nothing about. A little web search brought up the information that she was associated with Faure during his later years and, was a favorite soloist of Koussevitzky during his tenure in Boston. She also taught here in the States for a number of years.
To my ears, I hear connections to the music of Chopin. The great 19th century Polish composer was the master of the smaller piano art forms and Faure obviously knew, studied and absorbed Chopin's style. The Barcarolle's, in particular, are works of relaxed lyricism that incorporate quieter melodies with precise and gentle harmonies. This is pleasurable listening, however in an urgent way, because Boynet performs with a deep understanding and love for this composer. It is one of those records where the performer gets as close to the composer as one can, maybe even closer to the composer's intention than the composer himself. If you do not know these gems, and admittedly I had a vague recollection, this is the introduction disc to the piano music of Faure. You will play this twice through on the first listening and let me know if you do not, ok?
I am so happy to have acquired this lp. I believe the recordings were made around 1951 or 2.
DOWNLOAD
