MUSIC OF TRIBUTE Vol. 3 FAURÉ
Vladimir Valjarevic: piano
works by Fauré, Ravel, Enesco, Koechlin, Schmitt, and others

In honor of Fauré: Music by the master and his pupils played by Vladimir Valjarevic

La revue musicale, France’s most prestigious and voluminous music journal through the mid 20th century, at least, published special numbers and memorial issues, which are now rare and avidly sought collectors’ items. The December 1925 issue, for instance, is dedicated to Chausson and contains the first publication of his mélodie, Le chevalier malheur. That for April 1929 is dedicated to Roussel – happily, while the composer was still alive and with Bacchus et Ariane and the Third Symphony just ahead – and contains mélodies and piano pieces in his honor by the likes of Conrad Beck, Maurice Delage, Arthur Honegger, Arthur Hoérée (his biographer), Jacques Ibert, Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc, and Alexandre Tansman. One of the Revue’s 1922 issues, an homage to the still-living Fauré, carried the extra-fauréenne works in our headnote. Needless to say, a number of these pieces transcend their occasional interest, though in the nature of things they’re seldom heard. Unlikely as it may seem, however, both the Roussel and Fauré homages were available on a 1988 CD, performed by Margaret Fingerhut and friends (Chandos CHAN 8578, Fanfare 12:3, p. 343), together with the granddaddy of such enterprises, numbers commissioned for a 1909 issue of the Revue dedicated to Haydn sporting contributions by Debussy, Dukas, Hahn, d’Indy, Ravel, and Widor. Here, the homages are interspersed with several seldom heard Fauré works, a context demonstrating rather disarmingly both the lessons of the master and his pupils’ individuality. Fingerhut’s album is no longer available, stateside, at least, but well worth tracking down. Where Fingerhut was straightforward, Valjarevic is atmospheric. Fingerhut’s incisive touch showing up detail where Valjarevic’s caressing legato envelops it in sensuousness. I’ve been sarcastic about pianists who play Fauré as Valjarevic does, finding a dryer touch and rhythmic steadiness more revealing, but his silk-on-velvet seductiveness cancels all objections. Here are piquant sidelights on Ravel and Enescu, while a small but fetching taste of Ladmirault or Aubert may prompt lifelong follow-up. Sound is warm ans 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

press release