- Main performer:
Ensemble Musique Oblique - Booklet languages: French, English, German
- Libretto languages: French, English, German
- Time: 55:17
Review
This is the Musique d'Abord reissue of a Harmonia Mundi disc creditable with touching off the André Caplet revival, much as there has been one. Caplet's chef d'oeuvre, Conte fantastique pour harpe et quatuor à cordes d'après Edgar A. Poe, "Le Masque de la mort rouge" -- to give the work's full title -- had been recorded before, even in outings featuring famous harp players such as Ursula Holliger and Ann Mason Stockton. Critics had commented on the work's essential oddness, originality, and innovative spirit, yet it wasn't clear until this Harmonia Mundi disc appeared in 1992 that the Conte fantastique was not an isolated quirk but emblematic of Caplet's work as a whole. Although rightly regarded as an impressionist, Caplet's music is neither superficially graceful nor diaphanous; much of it is taut, unsentimental, and avoids conventional development schemes. Caplet essayed the dark side of impressionism, and his late works are informed by a devout interest in Catholic mysticism. In this sense, he is a little closer to Messiaen than to Debussy, although to the latter, Caplet was a close friend and fellow traveler. He orchestrated and proofread scores for Debussy in order to help make the perpetually tardy Debussy make his publication deadlines.In addition to the Conte, this disc includes the Divertissements for harp; the song cycles Les prières for voice, harp, and string quartet; and Deux sonnets for soprano and harp and the Septuor for three women's voices and string quartet. The Septuor is notable in that the vocal parts are wordless and the writing for the voices instrumental in style; this and the Deux sonnets, in retrospect, are likewise interesting as they feature the fledgling voice of Sandrine Piau (just getting started in 1992, this might be her first recording). The contribution from harpist Laurence Cabel is central to this program, and he does an exceptionally fine job of it, as does the Ensemble Musique Oblique. Nevertheless, this is the essential recording for those interested in discovering the rarefied music of André Caplet. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide
