Both of the works on this 2024 release by pianist
Éric Le Sage
, violinist
Daishin Kashimoto
, and the
Schumann Quartet
have seen their fortunes rise in recent years as sumptuous late French Romanticism seemed somehow to resonate with the over-the-top luxuries of the present day. There have been several good readings of
Chausson
's
Concerto for piano, violin, and string quartet
, a unique work that combines the utmost lushness with considerable art in balancing the various forces involved. The work has attracted some big names, but this one, with
Berlin Philharmonic
concertmaster rendering the concerto's soaring passionate lines, can stand with any of them. The ensemble beautifully captures the tricky role of the string quartet, which at times is like the concertino in a Baroque concerto grosso but may also ally itself with the larger string group. But perhaps the biggest news here is the
Piano Quintet
by
Louis Vierne
, which has been recorded now and then, often with
César Franck
Piano Quintet in F minor
.
Vierne
remains primarily known for organ music, however, and that makes this a singularly fascinating work. The chromatic harmonies mark the piece as kin to
's murky organ music, but that style is combined with an intensely personal tone that becomes almost angry at times. The creative impetus for
's work was the deaths of both his brother and his son in World War I; he apparently channeled his grief into the composition of the quintet, which gained many listeners in the 1920s, fell into disfavor, and is now thankfully recovering. The virtues of the performance here again lie in the clarity of the playing from
Le Sage
and company. A very strong French chamber music release throughout. ~ James Manheim