Raphaël Feuillâtre - Visages baroques (2023) [Hi-Res]

The critics are highly enthusiastic about the young, successful guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre. "One of the most exciting concert guitarists of his generation," is how Guitar Salon International judges him, while Classical Guitar calls him "a fantastically versatile and sensitive performer." Feuillâtre celebrated his international breakthrough in 2018 as winner of the prestigious international competition of the "Guitar Foundation of America". With his debut on Deutsche Grammophon, he aims to share his love of Baroque music. The guitarist has recorded works by J.S Bach and his French contemporaries Forqueray, Rameau, Royer and Duphly. Once mostly written for harpsichord solo, they have been translated here into the colorful sound world of the guitar.

The album's title, Visages baroques (Faces of the Baroque), "refers to the very different qualities that each work acquires through its arrangement, but it also refers to the many facets of the guitar that are revealed here through the choice of music," Feuillâtre says. Two great works by Bach are featured: Concerto in D Major BWV 972, itself a transcription for harpsichord of a violin concerto by Vivaldi, and Partita No. 1 BWV 825, along with six French pieces. This music is framed by two other short pieces by Bach, the Prelude in C major and the Gavotte en rondeau from his Partita for solo violin in E major. Not to be underestimated, the entire repertoire is expanded by the transcriptions for guitar, some previously unpublished.