Academy of St.Martin-in-the-Fields, Neville Marriner - Fauré: Pelléas Et Mélisande, Masques Et Bergamasques Suite, Fantaisie For Flute (1983)

Gabriel Faure was a student of Camille Saint-Saens, but he developed a very unique and impressive style. He was much like a French equivalent of Ralph Vaughan Williams (especially the British composer's earlier works) because he wrote in a pastoral style that is often very melodic, very enjoyable, deeply moving, and almost comforting or reassuring at times. He lived from 1845 to 1924, about as long as his teacher (who lived from 1835 to 1921), and he became a very influential composer. Even the American composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) greatly praised Faure, calling his music timeless and innovative.

Sir Neville Marriner's compilation, with the familiar Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, highlights some of the best of Faure's music. Perhaps the best known work on this disc is his "Pavane," a melody which many have heard but didn't know who wrote it. This is the version which features some lush choral writing. The addition of the mixed chorus further enhances a very lovely and enchanting work that is quite good in the more familiar version for orchestra alone. There is something about French singing anyway that often adds to music.

Another real treat is hearing Faure's exquisite "Fantasie for Flute," a clearly virtuoso work that combines the best of solo flute writing with impressive orchestral accompaniment.

One of my personal favorites is the suite drawn from the incidental music Faure wrote in 1898 for Maurice Maeterlick's symbolic drama, "Pelleas et Melisande." It is remarkable to learn that Faure wrote this music for a British production of the tragic story. Actually, Faure spent considerable time in the U.K. There are four movements in the suite and they are highly atmospheric. Faure's score was actually the first written for Maeterlinck's play and, although the playwright admitted he didn't know much about music, he was pleased with this music. It is helpful, of course, to know the basic story of star-crossed lovers who ultimately lose their lives because they fell in love and angered Melisande's husband.

There are considerable orchestral colors in the 1919 suite that Faure compiled, "Masques et Bergamasques." This is music which looks to the past, much like Respighi's "Ancient Airs and Dances for the Lute." It is a highly enjoyable and often lively work. Much of Faure's music is relatively quiet and serene; this suite has considerablly more animation than the other pieces on this disc.

As usual, Sir Neville Marriner displayed considerable versatility and considerable ability in conducting these top-notch performances of late romantic orchestral masterpieces.
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