Chausson: Poème, Piano Trio and Other Chamber Music

Featuring

Philippe Graffin
Pascal Devoyon
Levon Chilingirian
Charles Sewart
Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir
Philip de Groote

Gary Hoffman
Charles Neidich
Chilingirian Quartet
Ernest Chausson

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Recording & Production

This recording was made following a series of concerts at the Galerie des Franciscains in Saint-Nazaire, France, during its chamber music festival in September 1997.

Composition History

Chausson's Piano Trio in G minor was composed in Switzerland between mid-July and mid-September 1881, after his failure in the Prix de Rome competition.

Composer Biography

Ernest Chausson, the composer, favored vocal and chamber music throughout his life, genres that reflected his intimate personality.

Album & Artwork

The album cover features the painting "The Boat" (c. 1890) by Claude Monet, a famous French Impressionist painter.

Composition History

The album features the first recording of Chausson's Poème in a version for violin, piano, and string quartet, which was discovered by chance in 1996.

Compositional Technique

Chausson's Andante and Allegro for clarinet and piano is notable for its adventurous use of the clarinet, an instrument rarely featured in salons and concerts at the time.

Critical Reception

Chausson's Piano Trio in G minor was completely overlooked at its 1882 premiere, with not a single critic attending, but has gained recognition since 1970.