Fauré: Berceuse, Op. 16

‘Juliette Hurel performs them with technical assurance and a fine sense of style, in which sparing use of vibrato is only one of the positive elements.’ Gramophone

‘Transparency, light, colours, tenderness, melancholy: all these come to mind when I try to pin down what I mean by “French impressions”. With its gentle, rich, sensuous and vivid sound, the flute is for me the perfect instrument for this repertoire. I have long wanted to record the works assembled here in the company of my dear friends. I am delighted to present them to you now.’ Juliette Hurel

For her third recording on Zig-Zag Territoires, Juliette Hurel offers us a journey through the French masterpieces for flute of the first half of the twentieth century, including Poulenc’s Flute Sonata, Debussy’s Sonata for flute, viola and harp, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and Syrinx, and Fauré’s Sicilienne and Berceuse.

Fauré’s musical language bridged a gap between 19th-century Romanticism and the music that appeared with the new century, developing and evolving, but retaining its own fundamental characteristics.

His gift for melody, subtle harmonic idiom, judicious and highly personal use of contemporary innovations make for enriching listening, whether in the popular Sicilienne, Pavane and other short pieces or in his two tuneful and impeccably crafted Cello Sonatas.

Since receiving top prizes, including the Diploma of the Tchaikovsky Competition, Moscow, and First Prize of the International Cello Competition Belgrade, Ina-Esther Joost Ben-Sasson has been in high demand as a soloist all over the world.

Leading New Zealand musicians Anthony Ferner (flute) and Helen Webby (harp) – both from Christchurch – perform a selection of reflective works for flute and harp, including Dorothea Franchi’s ‘Suite for Flute and Harp’.

This is the fifth album in our list from the fantastic Kenneth Smith and Paul Rhodes partnership. Here we have a programme of well-loved pieces for flute and piano (with some arrangements) to produce an album which can be listened to intently (as all good music should) or enjoyed as a backdrop to any social occasion. Timeless concert classics for all to enjoy, and incredible playing too.