Music reviews I’ve written for 1882.
1. Gabriel Faure: Nocturne No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 33 (8/10)
The third nocturne begins quite conventionally, to my ears, recalling almost another era. But it soon gets more languid and a little more dreamy. But it’s probably my least favourite of the first three nocturnes.
2. Leo Delibes: Lakme (7/10)
This is one of the “great” French operas. And right there we have a problem, at least for a music snob like me. French opera (with a few notable exceptions) feels like the forerunner of pop-music. They are so “big tune” oriented. They are easy to like more often than musically interesting. And I find myself feeling towards Lakme as I feel towards Carmen: meh. It’s fine and all, but it’s hardly changing what I think about French opera (like Debussy does, for example).
3. Gabriel Faure: Valse-Caprice No. 1 in A major, Op. 30 (7/10)
This is one of Faure’s most traditional sounding pieces, perhaps only because it is a waltz. It does display considerable virtuosity, though, which livens it up.
4. Henri Duparc: “Phidylé” (6/10)
Another deliberate song by Duparc; the pace does pick up at times, which makes it a little more interesting.