Bertrand Chamayou: Good Night!

The sixteen lullabies that Bertrand Chamayou has chosen for Good Night! form a captivatingly varied album. Embracing music from the Romantic era to the present day, the French pianist has shaped his program with care and imagination. Miniatures by masters like Chopin, Liszt, Grieg, and Brahms sit beside rarer treasures and a specially commissioned piece by the contemporary composer Bryce Dessner. “I’ve always loved the lullaby or berceuse as a genre because I’m an insomniac,” explains Chamayou, who is also father to two young children. “There is that special moment as you are falling asleep – or not – and there are lots of things going on in your head. You experience all kinds of emotions, from comfort and reassurance to anxiety. The lullaby’s place is halfway between dream and reality.”