Petite Suite Premiere Arabesque Six Épigraphes antiques La Fille aux cheveux de lin Andante cantabile Ballade slave Marche écossaise sur un theme populaire La Mer
Regular duet and two-piano partners, Hélene Mercier and Louis Lortie have returned to the studio for this all-Debussy programme. The album features duets written by the composer himself – such as the Petite Suite, the Six Épigraphes antiques, and the Marche écossaise sur un theme populaire, as well as a number of arrangements of his solo piano pieces (the Premiere Arabesque, La Fille aux cheveux de lin, and the Ballade slave). The album ends with André Caplet’s monumental arrangement of Debussy’s best-known orchestral work, La Mer. Stripping the work of its orchestral colours, this two-piano version allows the listener to appreciate more easily Debussy’s ground-breaking harmonic innovation. The album was recorded in the concert hall at Snape Maltings, in Suffolk, using a pair of Bösendorfer 280 VC grand pianos. Recording: Concert Hall, Snape Maltings, Snape, Suffolk; 18 – 20 October 2021. Pianos: Bösendorfer 280 VC grand pianos (serial nos 280VC-67 and 280VC-199).