This album of French piano rarities features seldom-heard and recently discovered works by composers who had an influence on Pierre Boulez, as well as the premiere recording of Boulez's PrÃ©lude, Toccata et Scherzo. This large-scale early work looks back on virtuosic Romantic music, while at the same time exploring the new compositional styles that Boulez would subsequently embrace. Among the rarities is a posthumously discovered piano study by Debussy, a reconstructed birdsong work by Messiaen, and a tiny masterpiece by Ravel found in a notebook. Ralph van Raathas been fascinated by classical music of the 20th century since the age of 14. Although his repertoire ranges from Bach to Boulez, his primary focus has always been on composers dating from Debussy, BartÃ³k and Ives to present-day masters. Van Raat helps audiences identify with modern day composers by adhering to a classical approach: he firmly believes that a strong sense of classical structure as well as a refinement of tone is essential in conveying the logic and poetry of any music. This has not gone unrecognized: he is the recipient of a substantial number of national and international awards, many composers have written solo works for him, and he has performed over 50 piano concertos with orchestras worldwide.

Tracklist:

Étude Retrouvée, L. 143a
Les Soirs Illuminés Par L'ardeur Du Charbon, L. 150
Morceau De Lecture À Vue
Des Canyons Aux Étoiles, I/51 (Version For Solo Piano) [Excerpts]: IV. Le Cossyphe D'heuglin
Des Canyons Aux Étoiles, I/51 (Version For Solo Piano) [Excerpts]: IX. Le Moqueur Polyglotte
La Fauvette Passerinette
Prélude, Toccata & Scherzo: I. Prélude
Prélude, Toccata & Scherzo: II. Toccata
Prélude, Toccata & Scherzo: III. Scherzo
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 1, Fantasque - Modéré
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 2, Très Vif
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 3, Assez Lent
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 4, Rythmique
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 5, Doux Et Improvisé
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 6, Rapide
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 7, Hiératique
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 8, Modéré Jusqu'à Très Vif
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 9, Lointain - Calme
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 10, Mécanique Et Très Sec
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 11, Scintillant, Faire Ressortir Le Chant En Sauts Disjoints
Notations (Version For Solo Piano): No. 12, Lent - Puissant Et Âpre
Une Page D'éphéméride
Minuet In C-Sharp Minor, M. 42

UPC: 747313389476
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 5.22.20
Format: CD

French Piano Rarities / Various - French Piano Rarities (CD)