Lucien Durosoir (1878-1955) - Musique pour violon & piano - Geneviève Laurenceau, Lorène de Ratuld

Opgenomen in december 2005, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Zwitserland)

"Lucien Durosoir (1878-1955) began his musical life as a concert violinist but his career was interrupted - and indeed ruined - by the First World War, during which he spent a considerable period as a soldier (under stress) with André Caplet, who encouraged him on his return to the civilian life to turn to composition. This recording offers his limited but remarkable output for his own instrument, for which he writes hauntingly and with total freedom. Indeed, although these works partner piano and violin perfectly, one often feels that in the melodic interplay each instrument seems to move independently. The memorable two-movement Sonata opens with pensive melancholy but is soon energetically inventive in its abundance of ideas, quixotic in its harmonic shifts and rhythmic impulses. The second movement doesn't greatly change momentum or style.
Oisillon bleu trills in a semi-delirium of ear-tickling unpredictability, while Rêve is meditative. The Nocturne is more troubled in feeling than one would expect from its title, but calm at the close. The early Légende is a brief reverie born over a rising scale, but has a short, more turbulent middle section, and the other miniatures, the rapturous Chant élégiaque and the lovely, gentle Prière à Marie are a late works full of exquisite tenderness. Then the delightfully varied Cinq Aquarelles have such instant appeal that they should find their way into the main repertoire.
The performances are very persuasive.
Geneviève Laurenceau, often playing with great delicacy, creates a lovely timbre, subtly coloured, and Lorène de Ratuld is a wholly sympathic partner. They are beautiful recorded and the balance is remarkably well managed. The recitals ends with a brief comment (in French) from the composer. A disc well worth exploring."
Ivan March, Gramophone, april 2007

Geneviève Laurenceau, Stradiviarius 1682
Lorène de Ratuld, piano Steinway

Sonate en la mineur (1921)
1. Introduction [9:55]
2. Le Lis [12:07]

3. Oisillon bleu (1927) [9:17]
4. Rêve (1925) [7:25]
5. Nocturne (1950) [2:01]
6. Légende (19230 [2:32]

Cinq Aquarelles
7. Bretagne [3:40]
8. Vision [4:03]
9. Ronde [2:11]
10. Berceuse [3:14]
11. Intermède [1:51]

12. Chant élégiaque (1950) [5:04]
13. Prière à Marie (1949) [3:32]

14. Lucien Durosoir, en 1950 [0:34]

[Many many thanks to Pancho Villa for introducing me to this composer by posting his remarkable string quartets! Please visit his excellent blog everyone!]

Download (flac, cue, scans, 313 MB): Deel I --- Deel II --- Deel III --- Deel IV (Rapidshare)