The performers, Izabella Simon and Dénes Várjon, believe that playing duets is an incredible source of inspiration that benefits all other genres of music-making.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ravel's Ma mère l'oye (Mother Goose) suite visually portrays characters and conjures up a world of pagodas, Tom Thumb's fears, and the conflicts of Beauty and the Beast.
Performer Biography
Dénes Várjon, one of the pianists, won first prize in the Concours Géza Anda international piano competition in Zurich, which launched his career.
Interpretation
Pianists Izabella Simon and Dénes Várjon consider piano duets a special form of musical expression, blending solo playing and chamber music.
Compositional Technique
The four-hand transcription of Fauré's String Quartet includes the composer's own arrangement of the second movement, while the first and third movements were arranged by legendary French pianist Alfred Cortot.
Composition History
Fauré's only string quartet, featured on this album in a four-hand version, was his last opus, written shortly before he died.
Performer Biography
Izabella Simon and Dénes Várjon, the pianists on this album, are a married couple who frequently perform piano duets and two-piano works together.
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Sound Meditations
Debussy: Early Works for Piano Duet
Debussy: Four-Hand Piano Music, Vol. 1
Debussy: Works for Piano Four-Hands
Debussy: Petite Suite, L. 65
Debussy: Piano Duets
Debussy, Stravinsky : Piano à quatre mains
Bax & Chung Piano Duo: Debussy and Ravel for Two
Debussy - Complete Works for Piano Duo Vol. 3
French Duets - Fauré: Dolly Suite; Ravel, Debussy, Poulenc etc.
