Alexandre Tharaud & Friends - Four Hands - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

This was something I'd had in mind for a long time...Inch says pianist Alexandre Tharaud, Inchto put together an album for the sheer pleasure of it, in collaboration with dear friends and paying tribute to the wonders of the piano duet repertoire.Inch The aptly named 4 Hands offers 18 tracks, each just a few minutes in length, each featuring Tharaud sharing a piano keyboard with a different partner. The repertoire ranges wide - from Bach to Glass by way of such composers as Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Fauré, Satie, Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninov, Ravel and Piazzolla. 15 of Tharaud's fellow performers are celebrated pianists - among them the late Nicholas Angelich, Mariam Batsashvili, Bertrand Chamayou, David Fray, Víkingur Ólafsson and Beatrice Rana. The other three, all stars in their musical fields, are shown in a new, pianistic light cellist Gautier Capuçon, countertenor Philippe Jaroussky and singer-songwriter Juliette. InchThe piano duet is one of life's miracles,Inch continues Tharaud. InchFirst and foremost, it is the most intimate way of playing chamber music... It was a joy to record this album... If hearing these pieces prompts people to buy some sheet music and enjoy playing duets together - just as we did in the recording studio - then I will have achieved my aim.