French piano duets
- GRAMOPHONE RECORD OF THE MONTH APRIL 2021
‘… the most sublime example of peerless pianism..’
Gramophone
‘Far from a marriage of convenience, Lewis and Osborne are long-standing duo partners, complementing each other perfectly in lightly-worn virtuosity…. In short, this is pure enjoyment from start to finish.’
Classical Music
‘[Osborne and Lewis are] decorous guides to the old-world charms of [Debussy's] suite after delighting in the more piquant rhythms and harmonies of Poulenc's Sonata for four hands and the beautiful fairytale tints of Ravel's Mother Goose. It's excellent piano sound as well’
BBC Record Review
‘The partnership of Lewis and Osborne has already produced one exceptional disc: Schubert’s music for four hands, including the Fantasie in F minor, one of the genre’s masterpieces. They renew their collaboration in a programme of French duets—plus Stravinsky of his Parisian years—framed by two of the most popular pieces in the repertoire, Fauré’s Dolly Suite and the original version of Ravel’s Ma mère l’oye. The two pianists lavish an almost orchestral palette of colours on both: limpid, translucent textures, vital rhythmic address and shapely phrasing of both composers’ melodies … an absorbing and brilliantly played programme’
The Sunday Times
‘The crowning glory of this album is Debussy’s Six épigraphes antiques, with which Lewis and Osborne make magic. They create a mysterious and calmly numinous atmosphere for the first two pieces, and convey the tonal ambiguities with what feel like casual flicks of the wrist. The fact that it’s four wrists in perfect accord is typical of this brilliant pianistic team: listening blind, one could imagine it’s a single pair of omnipotent hands’
International Piano
‘Paul Lewis and Steven Osborne, two of Britain's foremost pianists, give matchless performances, and their virtuosic brilliance and unique sensitivity to the many nuances of these scores are an absolute joy to listen to. A real peach of a disc from one of Britain's best-loved labels’
Classical Music Daily
‘You feel the rapport between Paul Lewis and Steven Osborne immediately, the 'Berceuse' from Fauré’s Dolly so beautifully coordinated. Phrasing, colour, rhythm; this is like hearing a four-handed pianist. This is a gorgeous collection, two deeply serious musicians in mostly relaxed mood’
TheArtsDesk.com
Tracklisting
Fauré-Dolly Suite
Berceuse
Mi-a-ou
Le jardin de Dolly
Kitty-valse
Tendresse
Le pas espagnol
Poulenc-sonata for four hands
Prélude
Rustique
Final
Debussy-Six épigraphes antiques
Pour invoquer Pan, dieu du vent d’été
Pour untombeau sans nom
Pour que la nuit soit propice
Pour la danseuse aux crotales
Pour l’égyptienne
Pour remercier la pluie au matin
Debussy-Petite suite
En bateau
Cortège
Menuet
Ballet
Stravinsky-Three easy pieces
March
Waltz
Polka
Ravel-Ma mère l’oye
Pavane de la belle au bois dormant
Petit poucet
Laideronette, impératrice des pagodes
Les entretiens de la belle et de la bête
Le jardin féerique