Une rencontre (An Encounter): Schumann – Murail
What a fantastic range”, “very warm vibrant tone”, “wonderful lyrical playing”, “the beauty and the delicay with which she [Marie Ythier] kind of encounters the harmonics of Murail into the Schumann pieces” […] (BBC Radio 3 Record Review)
Composer Tristan Murail is without doubt one of the most significant figures in European contemporary music circles, known best perhaps for his being a close follower of Messiaen (his teacher was Jeanne Loriod) and one of the prime instigators of the field of spectral music. Murail says this: ‘Early on, every young composer is confronted with an already existing musical universe. Should he accept it, play according to established and consensual rules, or instead, try to stretch or even break away from them?”
His answer is generally, to develop new soundworlds arising out of the old and to concentrate not on the serialism fashionable when he was young, but the essential musical sound, investigating new playing techniques and creating a genre practically his own. Marilyn Nonken’s recording of his complete piano music, issued in 2005, remains one of the regular best sellers in the Metier catalog.
This new album reflects on his encounters with Schumann and culminates in his re-interpretation of Kinderszenen where his restrained arrangement stays close (but not too close) to the original – it is also a first class set of performances by a stunning cellist.
Marie Ythier is a remarkably fine cellist for whom this is the 5th album. She plays repertoire form all periods, but is particularly interested in new music. She has collaborated with many leading composers, holds several teaching posts and has received numerous prizes. Her playing is assured and deft, equally at home in the Romantic and the avant-garde.
Track Listing
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Robert Schumann (1810-1856):
- Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102 - I. Mit humor - vanitas vanitatum (3:23)
- Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102 - II. Langsam (3:38)
- Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102 - III. Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen (4:11)
- Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102 - IV. Nicht zu rasch (2:06)
- Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102 - V. Stark und markiert (2:57) Tristan Murail (b.1947):
- Attracteurs étranges (9:01)
- Une lettre de Vincent (7:47) Robert Schumann (1810-1856):
- Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 - I. Zart und mit Ausdruck (3:31)
- Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 - II. Lebhaft, leicht (3:14)
- Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 - III. Rasch und mit Feuer (4:03) Tristan Murail (b.1947):
- C’est un jardin secret, ma sœur, ma fiancée, une fontaine close, une source scellée… (4:34) Une relecture des Scènes d’enfants (Kinderszenen), Op. 15 par Robert Schumann:
- Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (2:02)
- Curiose Geschichte (1:10)
- Hasche-Mann (0:33)
- Bittendes Kind (0:50)
- Glückes genug (0:41)
- Wichtige Begebenheit (1:01)
- Träumerei (2:35)
- Am Camin (0:59)
- Ritter vom Steckenpferd (0:48)
- Fast zu Ernst (1:33)
- Fürchtenmachen (2:09)
- Kind im Einschlummern (2:07)
- Der Dichter spricht (2:07)
Reviews
“Schumann’s letter and spirit, amplified by the colors of Murail.
” —Romaric Gergorin
“Played with beauty… unusually sensitive performances. The playing is excellent and recorded with clarity.
” —David W Moore
“Ythier’s technique is magnificent. Fresh, imaginative programming, superb per¬formances, and stimulating documentation all contribute to an unmissable experience,
” —Colin Clarke
“There’s a lighter and cleaner balance than on [the Steinway disc also reviewed here], with perhaps a touch more tonal nuance. The final encounter is Murail’s recent instrumental re-interpretation of Schumann’s piano work (Kinderszenen) Op. 15, Murail using a range of instrumental techniques to make the orchestration sound larger than a trio.
” —Terry Robbins
“It was the poetry of Murail’s music that inspired Ythier to link it with Schumann’s and she brings out this quality especially well.
” —Janet Banks
“Marie Ythier is a discovery for me: a musician of exquisite subtlety and charisma, whose every phrase is alive with penetrating intelligence. The [album] is an iridescent sonic weave which lingers long in the ear. Five stars awarded.
” —Helen Wallace
“The warm tones of the cello are what make this CD a pleasure to listen to. We’re not trying to write clever reviews, just tell you whether the music is enjoyable and worth a [piece] of your hard-earned wages. In this case, yes.
” —Jeremy Condliffe
“The playing of French cellist Marie Ythier evidences utter comfort with the technical challenges of Murail’s serialism. The young cellist has an uncanny way of switching musical gears in order to inhabit the Ur-Romantic world of Robert Schumann and the contemporary sounds of Murail. Her technique is flawless, her interpretive gifts non-pareil, and her partners, pianist Marie Vermeulin and flautist Samuel Bricault are faultless associates in the ensemble’s chameleonic transitions from Schumann to Murail and on to Murail’s re-conceived Schumann-Murail conflation of Kinderszenen.
” —Rafael de Acha
“Marie Ythier displays powerful gestures and an impressive palette of colors. Between fiery élan and expressive effusions, the expansive lines and the warm tone of her cello delight us.
” —Michèle Tosi
“The young cellist is as inspired in her playing as in her program.
” —Pierre Gervasoni
“Intriguing encounter between early Romantic and “spectralist” … piano originals are energised and haloed by captivating new timbres.
” —Paul Driver
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