Faure: Orchestral Works

Penguin Guide review: ‘Beautifully and richly recorded, with Yan Pascal Tortelier, a most understanding interpreter, this neatly brings together the most popular orchestral pieces of Fauré, miniatures which often convey surprising weight of feeling as well as charm, as for example in the celebrated Elégie, here tenderly played by Peter Dixon. Kathryn Stott brings out not only the poetry in the Ballade for Piano and Orchestra, but also the scherzando sparkle of the virtuoso passages. Just as convincing are the Fantaisie for Flute (soloist Richard Davis) and the ever-popular Dolly Suite, both arranged by other hands. The four brief movement of Masques et bergamasques are charmingly done and Tortelier’s account of the Overture to Masques et bargamasques is second to none. Indeed, he has the measure of all the music on this disc, be it the poignancy of the Pénélope Prelude or the delicacy of the Dolly Suite.’