Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Marguerite Long, Vol. 2 - Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & Ravel
APR

Marguerite Long, Vol. 2 - Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & Ravel

$21.99

Details

Composer
Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, Darius Milhaud, Maurice Ravel
Artist
Marguerite Long
Format
CD
Label
APR
Released
Nov 04, 2022
Catalog #
APR6039
UPC
5024709160396

About

Undoubtedly the foremost French female pianist of the 20th century, Marguerite Long (1874–1966) prided herself on her personal friendships with some of the foremost composers of her day – Debussy, Fauré and Ravel. She championed their works, premiering Ravel’s G major piano concerto, and was to write books on the interpretation of each of them.

This addition to our continuing French Piano School series is the second of two APR volumes, together containing her complete recordings of French repertoire, and of honorary Frenchman, Chopin. Of particular significance here are the premiere recordings of the Ravel G major and Milhaud 1st concertos - both works dedicated to her - and also the first ever recording of Chopin's 2nd Concerto from 1929, which has not previously been reissued.

REVIEW:

The second volume of APR’s Marguerite Long retrospective is once again focused on French repertoire, with recordings set down between 1929 and 1952. In common with the previous volume, all the recordings featured here have been superbly restored by Mark Obert-Thorn.

CD 1 is devoted exclusively to Chopin. Centre stage is the premiere recording of the Piano Concerto No.2. Philippe Gaubert conducts the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatore in this June 1929 inscription. She made a later recording of the work in 1953 with André Cluytens which I haven’t heard, so can’t offer any comparisons. In this earlier recording, the soloist is forwardly projected, with the orchestra sounding slightly recessed. The first movement begins with a heavily truncated tutti. The slow movement, an exquisite nocturne imbued with pathos and beauty and speaking of unrequited love, isn’t the best I’ve heard. I find Long’s rendition oddly prosaic and devoid of poetry. Gaubert’s staid support isn’t much to write home about either.

Set down on 11 May 1929, the Fantasy in F minor is the earliest recording in the set. Long displays virtuosity in abundance and captures the piece’s mercurial moods, with rubato kept firmly under control. The playful F sharp minor Mazurka is stylish. Of the two waltzes, the A flat seems a bit rushed. Elegance and poise characterize her Barcarolle, whilst the Berceuse, a true lullaby, is well-paced and gently rendered. Adopting a pearl-like tone, she achieves myriad tonal colours with each successive variation. It’s certainly one of the highlights of this collection. The Second Scherzo is action-packed with drama, with contrasting sections of poetic lyricism.

Despite the fact that Long forged a personal friendship with Debussy and championed his music, she recorded very little of it. The two Arabesques are played with geniality and affection. Jardins sous la pluie is nicely paced and sparkling even though she herself considered her performance too fast. La plus que lente is tastefully delivered without the overindulgence on the rubato front one sometimes encounters.

The set offers two recordings of Ravel’s G major Piano Concerto recorded twenty years apart, and how different they are. The 1932 traversal is the world premiere recording with an orchestra directed by Pedro de Freitas Branco. Perhaps this version is the better known of the two. The first two movements are more brisk than in the later version. The central slow movement is rhythmically strict. In 1952, this time with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire and Georges Tzipine, she takes a more relaxed approach and allows herself more rhythmic freedom. The sound quality had improved greatly by the time the second recording was made. I have to say that I much prefer the later one for its less hemmed in approach and the more perceived affection lavished upon it.

Darius Milhaud dedicated the first of his five piano concertos to Marguerite Long. She premiered it in Paris in 1934. That performance was conducted by Alberf Wolff. The recording was made a year later on 5 & 6 April 1935 with the composer himself at the helm of an unnamed orchestra. Two vigorous, neo-classically wrought outer movements frame a central Barcarolle, which provides a soothing contrast. This ‘slow’ movement is a delight, where radiant woodwind writing provides a diaphanous backdrop to the luminous piano writing. Long achieves some subtle, glorious colouring. The two solo piano pieces offer some striking contrast. Paysandú is dark and sombre, whilst the more virtuosic Alfama displays a sparkling, carefree demeanour.

This volume, together with volume 1, positions Long in the hierarchy of great pianists. I’m grateful to the skill and care APR have lavished upon these valuable recordings. Roger Nichols insightful liner notes are the icing on the cake.

-- MusicWeb International (Stephen Greenbank)

Tracklist 26 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49 11:14
    Track
    1
    Title
    Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49
    Duration
    11:14
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  3. 2 Mazurka No. 38 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 59, No. 3 03:22
    Track
    2
    Title
    Mazurka No. 38 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 59, No. 3
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  4. 3 Waltz No. 8 in A-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3 02:27
    Track
    3
    Title
    Waltz No. 8 in A-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  5. 4 Waltz No. 13 in D-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 3 02:48
    Track
    4
    Title
    Waltz No. 13 in D-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 3
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  6. 5 Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60 07:34
    Track
    5
    Title
    Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
    Duration
    07:34
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  7. 6 Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57 04:26
    Track
    6
    Title
    Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  8. 7 Fantasy-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66 04:14
    Track
    7
    Title
    Fantasy-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  9. 8 Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 31 08:53
    Track
    8
    Title
    Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
    Duration
    08:53
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  10. 9 I. Maestoso 11:16
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Maestoso
    Duration
    11:16
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
    Conductor
    Philippe Gaubert
  11. 10 II. Larghetto 08:26
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Larghetto
    Duration
    08:26
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
    Conductor
    Philippe Gaubert
  12. 11 III. Allegro vivace 07:44
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Allegro vivace
    Duration
    07:44
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
    Conductor
    Philippe Gaubert
  13. Disc 2
  14. 1 I. Allegramente 07:23
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegramente
    Duration
    07:23
    Composer
    Maurice Ravel
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
    Conductor
    Pedro de Freitas Branco
  15. 2 II. Adagio assai 08:40
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Adagio assai
    Duration
    08:40
    Composer
    Maurice Ravel
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  16. 3 III. Presto 04:06
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    Maurice Ravel
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  17. 4 No. 1 in E Major 03:21
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 1 in E Major
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  18. 5 No. 2 in G Major 03:11
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 2 in G Major
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  19. 6 Estampes: No. 3. Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain) 03:09
    Track
    6
    Title
    Estampes: No. 3. Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain)
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  20. 7 La plus que lente 03:29
    Track
    7
    Title
    La plus que lente
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  21. 8 I. Tres vif 03:42
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Tres vif
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Darius Milhaud
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
    Conductor
    Darius Milhaud
  22. 9 II. Barcarolle 04:31
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Barcarolle
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Darius Milhaud
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
    Conductor
    Darius Milhaud
  23. 10 III. Finale 04:10
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Finale
    Duration
    04:10
    Composer
    Darius Milhaud
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
    Conductor
    Darius Milhaud
  24. 11 Saudades do Brasil, Op. 67: XII. Paysandu 01:37
    Track
    11
    Title
    Saudades do Brasil, Op. 67: XII. Paysandu
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Darius Milhaud
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  25. 12 L'automne, Op. 115: II. Alfama 02:40
    Track
    12
    Title
    L'automne, Op. 115: II. Alfama
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Darius Milhaud
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  26. 13 I. Allegramente 08:13
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Allegramente
    Duration
    08:13
    Composer
    Maurice Ravel
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  27. 14 II. Adagio assai 09:53
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Adagio assai
    Duration
    09:53
    Composer
    Maurice Ravel
    Performer
    Marguerite Long
  28. 15 III. Presto 04:08
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    Maurice Ravel
    Performer
    Marguerite Long