Quatuor Zaïde, Karine Deshayes and Jonas Vitaud – Franck, Chausson (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Zaïde, Karine Deshayes and Jonas Vitaud – Franck, Chausson (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 49:53 minutes | 844 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © NoMadMusic

Although much acclaimed at the time of its premiere in 1890, César Franck’s quartet is rarely played or recorded; here it is at the centre of this third album by the Quatuor Zaïde, who have repeatedly pursued an original and ambitious discography off the beaten path.

Karine Deshayes and Jonas Vitaud then join the quartet to bring us the torments of a woman madly in love mourning the loss of her beloved through the poetry of Charles Cros and the music of Ernest Chausson. An indisputable masterpiece of French mélodie, Chanson perpétuelle rounds out this snapshot of the late 19th century at the crossroads of Romanticism and Impressionism.

“Contrasting textures and weights are in fact everywhere across the disc, continuing with Chausson’s Chanson perpétuelle. Here, the recording (already an enjoyably spacious affair) positions fellow French artists – pianist Jonas Vitaud and mezzo Karine Deshayes – slightly out in front. However, it’s clear that even without this extra help Deshayes’s beautifully warm, light voice would have had all the space it needed, as the quartet is a selflessly sympathetic accompanist, content for its string countermelodies to waft around the vocal lines as no more than a faint, beguiling perfume. Emotional investment, freshness and indeed Frenchness – all in all, it’s a beautiful package.” (The Strad)

Tracklist:

01. Quatuor Zaïde – Quatuor en Ré Majeur, FWV 9: I. Poco lento. Allegro (15:05)
02. Quatuor Zaïde – Quatuor en Ré Majeur, FWV 9: II. Scherzo (05:30)
03. Quatuor Zaïde – Quatuor en Ré Majeur, FWV 9: III. Larghetto (10:07)
04. Quatuor Zaïde – Quatuor en Ré Majeur, FWV 9: IV. Final. Allegro molto (12:37)
05. Quatuor Zaïde, Karine Deshayes & Jonas Vitaud – Chanson Perpétuelle, Op. 37 (06:31)

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