César Franck: Symphony D minor / Gabriel Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande

Daniel Barenboim and the Berliner Philharmoniker have maintained a strong artistic partnership for 60 years. Here they joined forces for a fascinating programme of French Romantic masterpieces, demonstrating the Maestro’s unique sense of tonal colour and his unerring understanding of style. In César Franck's visionary Symphony in D minor, Barenboim focuses on a large, monumental sound that emphasizes the hymn-like aspect of this work. Gabriel Fauré's enchanting suite „Pelléas et Mélisande“ is brought to life by the musicians in a colourful and sensual way. They create a carpet of sound for Albrecht Mayer on the oboe and Emmanuel Pahud on the flute to impress with their expressive and beautiful solos. It’s an album that bears witness to a special, decades-long bond and artistic partnership.

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On 20 June 1924, L'Édition d'Art Henry Piazza in Paris published a luxurious edition of Maurice Maeterlinck's play "Pelléas et Mélisande". Printed on fine wove paper, the book was published in an edition of 775 copies and was adorned with colour illustrations by the German-Swiss painter and graphic artist Carlos Schwabe.

Deluxe version: In addition to the album with Fauré's incidental music to "Pelléas et Mélisande", you will receive five postcards with the very rare illustrations, printed on uncoated paper with a natural haptic quality – in a limited edition of 100 copies in total.

Tracklist:

CÉSAR FRANCK (1822–1890)
Symphony in D minor CFF 130

1.            I.           Lento – Allegro non troppo

2.            II.          Allegretto

3.            III.         Allegro non troppo

GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845–1924)
Pelléas et Mélisande Op. 80

Suite for orchestra from the incidental music to the play by Maurice Maeterlinck

4.            I.           Prélude. Quasi Adagio

5.            II.          La fileuse. Andantino quasi allegretto 

6.            III.         Sicilienne. Allegretto molto moderato

7.            IV.        La mort de Mélisande. Molto Adagio

BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER
DANIEL BARENBOIM