Fiona Maddocks 

Debussy, Ravel: Prélude à l’après midi d’un faune; Ma mère l’Oye – review

The pianos of Pascal and Ami Rogé offer a different kind of pleasure in their exploration of French music, writes Fiona Maddocks
  
  


The sound of familiar orchestral music played on two pianos can have a startling effect: hearing the chromatic flute opening of Debussy's Prélude à l'après midi d'un faune characterised only by the piano makes you concentrate on harmony and phrasing, rather than orchestral colour and timbre. It's a stimulating aural exercise, as well as a different kind of pleasure. The life/music partnership of Pascal and Ami Rogé continues in their exploration of French music with Ravel's Ma mère l'Oye and Rapsodie espagnole. Ravel's transcription of Debussy's Fêtes and the couple's own stunning version of the same composer's La Mer work especially well.

 

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