FAURÉ Romances sans paroles, op. 17: Andante quasi allegretto; Allegro molto; Andante moderato. Valse-caprice in A, op. 30/1. Impromptu in f, op. 31/2. Mazurka in Bflat, op. 32. 8 pièces breves, op. 84: Improvisation in c sharp; Fugue in a. 9 Préludes, op. 103: No. 1 in D flat; No. 2 in d. RAVEL Berceuse.1 ENESCU Molto moderato e cantibile. AUBERT Moderato. SCHMITT Rapide. KOECHLIN Andante, calme e très expressif. LADMIRAULT Allegro moderato. ROGER-DUCASSE D’une extrême lenteur

A new recording by the young Yugoslav virtuoso Vladimir Valjarevi? pays homage to the great French composer, Gabriel Fauré. In 1922, seven of Fauré's pupils were commissioned to write music for an album in his honor. Among those who contributed were Maurice Ravel, Georges Enesco, Charles Koechlin and Florent Schmitt. These works of homage alternate with piano music by Fauré himself including some of his most grateful and attractive pieces which stand directly between the tradition of Couperin and Chopin and the innovations of his student Ravel and Debussy.

"Here are piquant sidelights on Ravel and Enescu, while a small but fetching taste of Ladmirault or Aubert may prompt a lifelong follow-up. Sound is warm and spacious, but detailed and immediate. Informed liner notes by the redoubtable Eric Salzman, with blurbs on each piece, confect a final elegance. Enthusiastically recommended." - Adrian Corleonis, FANFARE