Fauré's 'ladders' are downward scales covering almost four octaves, designed to make the conclusion of a piece heard from afar.
Composition History
Fauré's incidental music for 'Pelléas et Mélisande' was commissioned by English actress Mrs. Patrick Campbell after Debussy declined, and Fauré enlisted his pupil Charles Koechlin to help with the orchestration.
Historical Context
The Pavane, Op. 50, by Fauré, was composed in 1887 during a period when French society looked to classical and earlier centuries to soothe the scars of the Franco-Prussian War and the Commune.
Compositional Technique
Fauré's piano music, particularly his Nocturnes and Barcarolles, often develops an initially easy-going nature into something grander and more powerful.
Composer Biography
Fauré was ambidextrous, which is reflected in his piano writing that demands equivalent agility and power from both hands.
Performer Biography
Louis Lortie, the pianist on this album, made his debut with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at age thirteen and has recorded over thirty albums for Chandos.
Composer Biography
Gabriel Fauré, the composer, held prestigious positions including organist of the Madeleine in Paris, professor and director of the Conservatoire, and was honored with a state funeral.
