Rhapsodies (2006)

Pianist Alain Lefèvre has taken on the musicological duties of cataloging the works of Quebec composer André Mathieu. As part of his mission of discovery, he also plans on performing and publishing what he can in order to raise greater awareness of Mathieu. This is his third album to feature Mathieu, and as on his concerto disc, once again one of the companion works is by Gershwin, who had a noticeable influence on the Canadian composer. In between Mathieu's and Gershwin's rhapsodies in this concert recording is Rachmaninov ... Read More

Pianist Alain Lefèvre has taken on the musicological duties of cataloging the works of Quebec composer André Mathieu. As part of his mission of discovery, he also plans on performing and publishing what he can in order to raise greater awareness of Mathieu. This is his third album to feature Mathieu, and as on his concerto disc, once again one of the companion works is by Gershwin, who had a noticeable influence on the Canadian composer. In between Mathieu's and Gershwin's rhapsodies in this concert recording is Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Rachmaninov seems to have had an even greater influence on Mathieu's piece than Gershwin. Mathieu's Rhapsodie romantique is very much a contrast to what was considered the height of "serious" music in 1958. It is often as sweeping and passionate as the Rachmaninov, full of surging drama and energetic animation, but less dour. The appealing melodies are not always long-lived; they seem to shift and change frequently, and only a couple return in... Read Less