MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Faure: Incidental Music & Orchestral Music (Incls 'Pelleas et Melisande', 'Masques et Bergamasques' & 'Alegie')

"Plasson shows himself to be a particularly sensitive interpreter of Faure."
- Gramophone Magazine

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) was not only a fine composer but he was a renowned educator which was amply proved during his fifteen year reign as director of the Conservatoire. He was also virtually alone among French composers not to have been influenced by the music of Wagner. If there were influences then they were of Chopin, Liszt and his fellow Frenchman, Saint-Saëns. He was greatly influenced by literature and about half of his music for orchestra is incidental music based on works by Dumas (Caligula), Maeterlinck (Pélleas et Mélisande) and Shakespeare (Shylock); other works for the stage were the Divertissement in one act, Masques et Bergamasques, with a text by Fauchoix and his opera Pénélope, of which the prelude is included in this collection. He also wrote works for solo instrument and orchestra: Ballade and Fantaisie for piano, Berceuse for violin and Élégie for cello. The set also includes the short charming piece for chorus and orchestra with words by Hugo, Les Djinns.

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