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Background:

• Faure (12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation.
• When he became successful in his middle age, holding the important posts of organist of the Église de la Madeleine and director of the Paris Conservatoire.
• Fauré's music has been described as linking the end of Romanticism with the modernism of the second quarter of the 20th century.
• Although his best-known and most accessible compositions are generally his earlier ones, Fauré composed many of his most highly regarded works in his later years, in a more harmonically and melodically complex style.
• Among his best-known works (detailed below) are his Nocturnes, the Barcarolles, Theme et Variations, Impromptus, Ballade, and Requiem.
• The Nocturnes: Faure wrote 13 of them spanning his entire career. They evolved from Romantic Chopin-inspired character pieces to deeply introspective, harmonically complex masterpieces.
• The Barcarolle: He wrote 13 of them, retaining the traditional Venetian gondolier’s swaying rhythm, they quickly trade simple postcard romanticism for deep harmonic complexity and emotional nuance.
• Theme et Variations in C-sharp minor, Op. 73 is a major 15-to-18-minute solo piano masterpiece composed in 1895 that moves from a solemn, march-like theme through 11 diverse variations before ending in a peaceful major mode.
• Impromptus: Fauré wrote six impromptus for piano (five traditional impromptus and one written for the harp, later transcribed) that trace his stylistic evolution from Romantic charm to complex, late-period harmonic brilliance.
• Ballade in F-sharp major, Op. 19 is a sunny, lyrical masterpiece composed in 1879, and dedicated to his teacher, Camille Saint-Saëns.
• Requiem in D minor, Op. 48 is a 35-minute sacred choral work composed between 1887 and 1900 that portrays death as a peaceful, comforting deliverance rather than a terrifying judgment.

Recordings:

• The Secret Faure II: Orchestral and Concertante Music.
  Ballade for Piano & Orchestra Op. 19.
  Axel Schacher (violin), Oliver Schnyder (piano), Antoine Lederlin (violoncello).
  Sinfonieorchester Basel.
  Ivor Bolton.
  Sony.
  BBC Music Magazine (2019): Orchestral Choice.
  Opus Klassik Awards (2020): Nominee Conductor of the Year.

• Requiem, Cantique de Jean Racine, Messe Basse.
  Tom Pickard (treble), Gerald Finley (baritone).
  The Choir of King’s College Cambridge.
  Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenement.
  Stephen Cleobury.
  BBC Music Magazine (2014): Disc of the Month.

• Piano Quartets Nos 1 & 2.
  Domus.
  Hyperion.
  Gramophone Awards (1986): Winner Chamber.

• Piano Quintets.
  Domus, Anthony Marwood.
  Hyperion.
  Gramophone Awards (1995): Winner Chamber.
  Penguin Guide (1999): Rosette.

• Ravel, Debussy, Faure: String Quartets.
  String Quartet in E minor, Op. 121.
  Quatuor Ebene.
  Erato.
  Gramophone Magazine (2008): Editor’s Choice.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2009): Newcomer of the Year.
  Gramophone Awards (2009): Recording of the Year.
  Gramophone Awards (2009): Winner Chamber.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2009).
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2009): First Choice.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2019): Recommended.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2020): Recommended Recording.

• Faure, Debussy, Ravel: Three French Piano Trios.
  The Florestan Trio.
  Hyperion.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2022): Recommended Recording.

• Horizons I.
  Pierre Fouchenneret, Simon Zaoui, Raphael Merlin, David Lefort.
  Aparte.

• Horizons II.
  Pierre Fouchenneret (violin), Simon Zaoui, Raphael Merlin, David Lefort, Marie Chilemme.
  Quatuor Strada.
  Aparte.
  International Classical Music Awards (2023): Nominated Chamber Music.

• Nocturnes & Barcarolles.
  Marc-Andre Hamelin (piano), Cathy Fuller (piano).
  Hyperion.
  Gramophone Magazine (2023): Editor’s Choice.
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2023): Finalist.
  Sunday Times(2023): 10 Best Classical Albums.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2024): Shortlisted Instrumental
  International Classical Music Awards (2024): Nominated Solo Instrument.

• Faure Piano Music.
  Theme et Variations Op. 73; Nocturnes Nos. 5, 6, 13, Ballade Op. 19.
  Angela Hewitt.
  Hyperion.

• Ravel Trio, Faure Trio, Debussy Violin Sonata & Cello Sonata.
  Hagai Shaham (violin), Arnon Erez (piano), Raphael Wallfisch (cello), Hagai Shaham (violin), Arnon Erez (piano).
  Nimbus Records.
  BBC Music Magazine (2013): Chamber Choice.

• Franck Piano Quintet; Faure Piano Quartet No. 1.
  Mami Shikimori (piano), Wihan Quartet.
  Nimbus.
  BBC Music Magazine (2020): Chamber Choice.

• Requiem; Bach, Partita, Chorales & Ciaccona.
  Gordon Nikolitch (violin), Grace Davidson (soprano), William Gaunt (baritone).
  Tenebre.
  London Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble.
  Nigel Short.
  LSO Live.
  Gramophone Magazine (2013): Editor’s Choice.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2016): First Choice.

• Faure The Complete Music for Piano.
  Kathryn Stott.
  Hyperion.
  Penguin Guide (1994): Rosette.

• Nocturnes & Barcarolles.
  Barcarolle Nos. 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 13; Nocturnes Nos. 5, 12, 13.
  Aline Piboule (piano Gaveau 1929).
  Harmonia Mundi.
  Gramophone Magazine (2024): Editor’s Choice.
  International Classical Music Awards (2025): Nominated Solo Instrument.

• Integrale de la Musique de Chambre Avec Piano.
  Eric le Sage, Daishain Kashimoto, Francois Salque, Lise Berthaud, Quartuor Ebene, Alexandre Tharaud, Paul Meyer, Emmanuel Pahud.
  Alpha.

• Masques et bergamasques, Theme et variations, Caligula, Les Djinns.
  Ruth Rosique (soprano), Tara Erraught (mezzo-soprano), Julien Dran (tenor), Benjamin Russell (baritone), National Symphony Chorus of Ireland, Chamber Choir Ireland.
  RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.
  Jean-Luc Tingaud.
  Naxos.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.