Review: Fauré - Complete Piano Music

Lucas Debargue describes recording the complete piano works of Gabriel Fauré, a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death, as a transformative undertaking. Equally significant is the instrument choice for this project, an “Opus 102” piano designed by Stephen Paulello. Boasting a vastly expanded range of 102 keys (additions to both the lower and higher registers), it has parallel strings and a barless frame.

Fauré – Complete Piano Music – Lucas Debargue

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The sonoric uniqueness of the Opus 102 piano is immediately evident in the three Romances sans Paroles that opens the set. I admit it took me some time to appreciate this uniqueness. My first impression was that the sympathetic resonances (vibrations of other strings due to a struck string’s harmonics) are much more prominent, which leads to a more hollow and cavernous sound—something I wasn’t sure sit well with an intimate and charming work. However, a second listen reveals the way in which Debargue uses the instrument’s layers to create distinct characters between the personable melody and the gently rocking ostinato.

The dreamy Ballade in F-sharp major (Disk 1, track 4) could use a bolder middle melody. The pianist’s soft touch creates a dreamy mood, but it can hide the interesting melody. A hint more freedom in the emotional sections might elevate this lovely piece.

Of the Impromptus, I did enjoy Op. 31 (Disc 1, track 8). While the aforementioned works rely on lyricism and legato, here is our chance to hear Debargue’s fingerwork as well as the instrument’s responsiveness to drier, more intricate material. In his booklet notes, he mentions that one reason he chose the Opus 102 piano was for its ability to bring out the polyphonic aspects of Fauré’s music. Indeed, we can hear the trajectory of each series of runs and the interplay between the different voices, all with a good deal of clarity.

*Stephen Paulello’s Opus 102 piano, used on the recording*

As for the Nocturnes, I had earlier reviewed a fine set from Marc-André Hamelin, whose Op. 84 No. 8 I especially liked for his masterful balancing of textures. While Debargue may not surpass the high level of voicing set forth by Hamelin, his treatment of the melodic material is nonetheless lyrical, fluid, and calming. Comparing the two recordings side-by-side, Hamelin’s Steinway gives off a warm clarity, while the Opus 102 adds an interesting bit of Impressionistic haziness to the runs. A similar sort of sound becomes a central part of the last Nocturne, the Op, 119 B minor (Disc 4, track 19), which derives its movement from elisions and harmonic suspensions. The harsh dissonances fuel the piece’s ever-present emotional turmoil, and Debargue skillfully shapes this disquiet as the music progresses. My only gripe is that the passion gets the better of him in a few instances, where the chords sound a bit harsh and abruptly struck.

The Nine Preludes Op. 103 are few of the best performances on the album, with Debargue capturing the array of personalities in vivid fashion. The D-flat (Disc 4, track 4) oscillates between dreamy and wistful in certain moments and mysterious and introspective in others, but it is not without its satisfyingly intense moments. The virtuosic C-sharp minor that follows reminds me of Debussy’s Feux d’Artifice in the way he offers plenty of sprightly clarity. His approach to the the F major (Disc 4, track 7), is one of simplistic charm that is yet tinged with adventure through Fauré’s harmonies, while the final prelude reveals its intrigue through a shift between E minor and a more modal sound. Again, Debargue opts for an even, unfussed (but not un-expressive) sonority which allows us to fully appreciate the composer’s tonal experimentation.

If the four and a half hours of recorded music wasn’t already impressive, Debargue also authors the liner notes from start to finish. His foreword is generous and sincere, showing an artist who is making a concerted effort to bring both music and instrument the recognition they deserve. A journey through this complete set is well worth taking.