François-Frédéric Guy, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet / Transcriptions for Two Pianists - Stravinsky, Debussy, Bartok (2015)

Debussy: Jeux (Transcription for two pianos by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet); Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps (Transcription for piano four hands by Igor Stravinsky); Bartók: Two Pictures (Transcription for two pianos by Zoltán Kocsis) – Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, François-Frédéric Guy. As played here, these transcriptions renew our experience of three great orchestral works, each of which was premiered in 1913.

Bavouzet’s version of Jeux is, like any fine transcription, far more than a memento of the original. Not only the trills and tremolandos needed on the piano to maintain sustained notes and chords, but also the interplay between the pianists, lines and motifs bouncing between them, become active participants in an intimate music of undulant ambiguity, dream, and darkness.

‘In Full Flower’, the first of the Two Pictures by Bartók, is often taken as his most Debussian composition thanks to his exploration of new scales and harmonic worlds. However, in bringing out its luxuriant and blossoming Hungarian aspects, Zoltán Kocsis emphasises rather the fully Bartókian character of the piece, which Bavouzet has conveyed to wide critical praise. The two ‘pictures’ here provide a route from Debussy’s world of erotic reverie to Stravinsky’s of ancient ritual.

The thundering and the bells of the two pianos in full and accurate fury make this version of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps hardly less forceful in the hands of these two dazzling and virtuosic pianists.

Composer: Béla Bartók, Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky
Performer: François-Frédéric Guy, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

Tracklist:

Bela Bartok (1881-1945)
Two Pictures (1910) 14:52
for Orchestra
Transcription by Zoltán Kocsis for Two Pianos
1 I In Full Flower. Poco adagio - Più sostenuto - (Tranquillo) - 7:02
2 II Village Dance. Allegro - (agitato) - (Sostenuto) - Agitato - 7:50

Achille-Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Jeux (1912-13) 16:36
Poème dansè
Transcription by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet for Two Pianos
À Madame Jacques Durand. Hommage respectueux, Claude Debussy

Distribution:
Première Jeune Fille
Seconde Jeune Fille
Un Jeune Homme

3 Prelude - 2:11
Très lent - Scherzando (Tempo initial) - Mouvement du Prélude - Tempo initial (Scherzando e molto grazioso)
Le Rideau se lève sur le parc vide. Une balle…
4 Du fond, à gauche, appraraissent deux jeunes… 1:03
5 Une des deux jeunes filles danse seule. L'autre… 1:09
6 On aperçoit le jeune homme au fond, à gauche,… 1:16
7 Ils dansent ensemble. Il lui demande un baiser. Elle… 2:07
8 Le jeune homme a suivi cette dernière danse… 2:05
9 Dans l'emportement de leur danse, ils n'ont pas… 1:34
10 Pourtant, le jeune homme intervient en écartant… 1:31
11 Ils dansent désormais tous les trois. Le jeune… 2:51
12 Une balle de tennis tombe à leurs pieds; surpris… 0:46

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Le Sacre du printemps (1911-13) 32:19
(The Rite of Spring)
Ballet for Orchestra
Transcription by the Composer for Piano Four Hands
Première Partie. L'Adoraton de la terre
(First Part. The Adoration of the Earth)
13 Introduction - Rideau. Jour - 3:13
(Introducton - Curtain. Day)
Lento - Più mosso - Tempo I
14 Les Augures printanier. Danses des adolescentes - 3:08
(The Augurs of Spring. Dance of the Young Girls)
Tempo giusto
Apparition des adolescentes -
(Apparition of the Young Girls)
[ ]
15 Jeu du rapt - 1:14
(Ritual of the Abduction)
Presto
16 Rondos printanières - 3:23
(Spring Rounds)
Tranquillo - Sostenuto e pesante - Vivo - Tranquillo
17 Jeux des cités rivales - 1:40
(Ritual of the Rival Tribes)
Molto allegro
18 Cortège du sage - 0:42
(Procession of the Sage)
[ ]
19 Le Sage - 0:24
(The Sage [The Kiss of the Earth])
Lento
20 Danse de la terre - Rideau 1:10
(Dance of the Earth - Curtain)
Prestissimo

Seconde Partie. Le Sacrifice
(Second Part. The Sacrifice)
21 Introduction - Rideau. La Nuit - 4:15
(Introduction - Curtain. Night)
Largo - Più mosso - Tempo I
22 Cercles mystérieux des adolescentes - 2:50
(Mystic Circles of the Young Girls)
Andante con moto - Più mosso - Tempo I
La danse s'interrompt. L'une des adolescentes…
(The dance stops. One of the young girls…)
[ ]
23 Glorification de l'élue - 1:26
(Glorification of the Chosen One)
Vivo
24 Évocation des ancêtres - 0:40
(Evocation of the Ancestors)
[ ] - Lento
25 Action rituelle des ancêtres - 3:39
(Ritual Action of the Ancestors)
Lento
26 Danse sacrale (L'Elue) 4:23
(Sacificial Dance [The Chosen One])
[ ] - Sostenuto e mastsoto
TT 64:12