The Best of Fauré

Customer Rating:
Summary: Another Naxos Home Run!
Comment: What a nice compilation of Fauré's premiere works! Congratulations, Naxos, and thanks for producing this one at a steal of a price too!

Just as an introduction for those who haven't yet had the pleasurable experience of hearing the works of this French Master as yet, Gabriel Urbain Fauré (1845-1924) produced compositions that, in my opinion, '...are incredibly pleasant to listen to'. That's about the best that I can descibe his various brilliant works.

He lived and worked during a time when such palatable music was being launched by a number of renowned musical artisans such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Debussy, and (later) Prokofiev. And, of course, being in Paris, the planetary capital of all the arts, for a good amount of time, his environment no doubt contributed to his clear inspiration.

This CD is a very nice representation of his more popular works. Casual Classical Music fans might think that they've never heard Fauré before, but I'll bet that most have. Just listen to tracks 7 and 8 on this recording (Pelleas et Melisande, Musique de scene, op. 80, "Prelude" and "Sicilienne") and you'll probably say, "Oh yeah! I've always liked that one!"

There are two superb excerpts from his famous "Requiem, op. 48", including the "Pie Jusu" and the "In paradisum" (there was no "Dies irae" in this composition), featuring Colm Carey on the organ. Of course, being an omnibus collection, multiple excellent orchestras and singers are featured on the recording.

I WISH that there had been a cut from "Pénélope," Faure's famous opera which first premiered in 1913 in the famous Paris art deco forum, (le) Théàtre des Champs-Elysées, during Serge Diaghilev's "Ballet Russe". (Stravinky's "The Rite of Spring" was also launched here in 1913!); however, maybe it is, in fact, best to hear "Pénélope" in its complete form. Just a thought.

If you much enjoy "easy listening" Classical Music, then snag this one right away -- you won't be sorry that you did.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Faure Essentials
Comment: If you want to persuade someone to listen to Faure then this is the album to begin with. It contains the very best known melodies.

Customer Rating:
Summary: music inside you
Comment: Have you ever felt music inside you when watching the sun going down, when felling the breeze in your hair, when smelling the grass in a gentle summer night...? The music of this CD may remind you that part of yourself that we may tend to forget in our busy life, liked the words of Celibidache which I liked very much: "the music is not the notes, YOU are the music"!
You would feel in this way, when listening to this CD.

Customer Rating:
Summary: An excellent compilation of Faure's work
Comment: I bought this cd not knowing anything about Gabriel Faure's music. A local orchestra was planning to perform Masques et Bergamasques, so I picked this cd being the most inexpensive way of buying something I possibly was not going to enjoy. But nothing could be further from the truth. I love this cd! It has such a nice variation of formats: piano concerto (Ballede in F sharp major Op. 19), piano solo (Baracarolle No.1 in A minor, Op. 20), vocal (Requiem, Op. 48), and symphony (Masques et Bergamasques). The music is also well played by various artists...no complaints on the performance side. And if it is true that one becomes the thoughts and vibrations that one allows to enter his or her mind, then by listening to Faure you may find yourself becoming a bit more tender, patient, and even romantic in your ways.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Romance
Comment: Bought this CD originally because of Romance, but I like it all. This is a new composer for me and I'm glad I found Faure'.