A fine addition to 2024’s Fauré celebrations
The Strad Issue: January 2025
Description: A fine addition to 2024’s Fauré celebrations
Musicians: Ji-Yoon Park (violin) Laurent Wagschal (piano)
Works: Fauré: Complete Works for Violin and Piano: Violin Sonatas nos.1 and 2, Romance, Morceau de lecture, Andante, Berceuse
Catalogue number: INDÉSENS IC054
When much of Fauré’s music has hitherto fallen strangely under the radar, last year’s centenary shone a much-needed light on some of the more neglected corners of his chamber repertoire – and revealed a treasure trove.
No one, though, has grasped this anniversary with more mettle than Laurent Wagschal, having in the past twelve months released albums of Fauré’s complete works for piano, and for cello and piano (with Pauline Bartissol).
His violin and piano-shaped instalment with Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra principal violinist Ji-Yoon Park is a polished affair, with a natural recording capturing a fine balance between the two instruments, and playing that combines passion and purity of line with overall technical and tonal finesse. Park’s rich glow across the flowing Berceuse is wonderful. If you don’t need all your Fauré in one place, then to my ears Irène Duval goes a tad deeper than Park – more detailed, more flyingly mercurial in her phrasing and articulation – on her own recent Fauré and Friends with Angus Webster (compare their respective Romances, for instance). But if you’re after a complete cycle, this classily delivers.
CHARLOTTE GARDNER
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