Orchestre National de Lille - Ramuntcho Suites - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Composer, conductor and organist Gabriel Pierné wrote in a wide variety of genres, from operator pieces for solo piano. His orchestral music for the stage shows the utmost refinement and clarity as well as wit and charm in the finest French tradition. His colorful and evocative score for Ramuntcho is rich in Basque flavor with zortzico dance rhythms and village dances, all beautifully textured. Set in the 18th century, the ballet Cydalise et le Chèvre-pied reveals the full range of his inventive scoring, which remains chamber music-like in it's finesse.