French pianist Alain Planès could not let the centenary of Satie’s death go by without paying tribute to this composer whom he admires above all others. Planès is the heir of the great 20th century French pianism as a student of Jacques Février, the renowned interpreter of Satie who studied with Marguerite Long and was a favorite of both Poulenc and Ravel. For Planès’s tribute to Satie, he is joined by baritone Marc Mauillon for Three Songs and pianist François Pinel for Three Pieces in the Form of a Pear for piano four hands. The album, recorded using a splendid Pleyel grand piano from 1928, is illustrated with drawings by the composer and paintings by the Planès himself.

Were Erik Satie’s singular proclivities eccentric or based in pathology? Does one need to know anything about an artist to assess the value of their work? The debates continue. Concerning Satie, one might make the case that his life was at least as enigmatic as his music. This latest release from Alain Planès and friends may provide insight to both the life and art of Satie.
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