Dances of Death
Richard Baker explores the music of two composers whose deaths were the result of tragic accidents. Ernest Chausson lived a quiet and relatively uneventful life. He was plagued by self-doubt, and his career was cut short by a fatal bicycle accident at the age of 44. Piano virtuoso
Charles-Valentin Alkan also suffered from a lack of self-confidence and eventually became a recluse. He died after pulling a heavy bookcase down upon himself. Including excerpts from: Alkan Grande Etude, Op 76 No 3 Laurent Martin (piano)
Alkan Funeral March for a Dead
Parrot Ensemble, conductor Raymond Lewenthal
Chausson Poeme de IAmour et de la
MerJessye Norman (soprano), Monte Carlo PO, conductor Armin Jordan Alkan Grand Sonata
Ronald Smith (piano)
SOUNDING THE CENTURY