COMPOSERS: Mehul
LABELS: Discover International
WORKS: Complete Piano Sonatas, Opp. 1 & 2
PERFORMER: Brigitte Haudebourg (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: DICD 920152 DDD
Méhul was one of the leading composers of Revolutionary and Napoleonic France – indeed, his operas won the praise of the Emperor himself. These sonatas just predate the Revolution, but are models of Enlightenment Classicism: with one exception in conventional three-movement form, with an elegant harmonic and melodic simplicity. Haudebourg gives a measured account of these largely unassuming pieces, on a replica 1794 pianoforte (which, as is often the case, is more happily forte than piano). William Humphreys-Jones
MŽhul
Méhul was one of the leading composers of Revolutionary and Napoleonic France – indeed, his operas won the praise of the Emperor himself. These sonatas just predate the Revolution, but are models of Enlightenment Classicism: with one exception in conventional three-movement form, with an elegant harmonic and melodic simplicity. Haudebourg gives a measured account of these largely unassuming pieces, on a replica 1794 pianoforte (which, as is often the case, is more happily forte than piano). William Humphreys-Jones
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:34 pm