BRILLON DE JOUY, ANNE-LOUISE BOYVIN D'HARDANCOURT

Buy Now

About this Release

Catalogue No.: GP872-73

Release Date: April 2021

Barcode: 747313987221

Composer(s): Anne-Louise Boyvin d'Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy

Artist(s): Nicolas Horvath

“Brillon de Jouy was one of the most important female keyboard virtuosos of the French pre-Revolution period. During the turbulent years of the French Revolution, she kept a low profile in order to survive as a member of the aristocracy, but even before then, she chose not to publish her music despite her renown in musical circles because at that time, it was considered to be dishonourable for members of the elite to have their music published. As a result, her music was totally forgotten and has been lying under dust in an old family library deep in the middle of France. Brillon's music is really amazing, full of life, drama, refreshing and with a dazzling virtuosity. There are many technical discoveries that were later further developed by Czerny & Liszt. It is a shame that the French Revolution happened for Brillon, otherwise she would have really become the French Mozart! She composed only for her own salon, which was one of the most famous ones and people came from all Europe to listen to her, and it was her salon that Benjamin Franklin chose when he stayed in Paris! Unlike what many others believe, this album demonstrates that salon music was not light or superficial but was rather like a musical laboratory highly inspired by all the latest operatic creations! Of the pieces recorded here, I particularly love the first movement of the Sixth Sonata, which reminds me so much of the second movement of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto. Also worthy of mention is the first movement of the Eighth Sonata with its rather odd beginning that would be developed decades later in the very same by another French female composer Helene de Montgeroult, whose music I will also be recording and releasing soon.” — Nicolas Horvath

Link(s):

Visit the Album Mini-Site

BRILLON DE JOUY, ANNE-LOUISE BOYVIN D'HARDANCOURT (1744–1824)

The Piano Sonatas Discovered

Nicolas Horvath, piano

The thirteen sonatas on this première recording represent the complete music for solo piano by the Parisian keyboardist and composer Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy, a musician much celebrated in her day and greatly admired by Boccherini. Introducing technical innovations more usually associated with Czerny and Liszt, these sonatas reflect a gloriously rich musical environment, incorporating and transforming elements from music of the time with great imagination and wit, and showing us that Madame Brillon’s glittering salon, though private, was by no means isolated.

This recording was made on: Steinway, Model D, number 248200

Tracklist

Disc 1

Sonnatte (Sonata) in A Minor (c1775-85) (00:09:00 )

I. Andanté molto con éxprésioné (00:04:01)

II. Allégro con motto (00:04:36)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 1 in C Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:08:00 )

I. Allegro non tanto (00:03:01)

II. Minuetto (00:05:08)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat Major (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:09:00 )

I. Allegro molto moderato (00:03:35)

II. Rondo et variations (00:05:07)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 3 in C Major (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:08:00 )

I. Andante (00:04:00)

II. Allegro (00:04:08)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 4 in G Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:06:00 )

I. Andante con espressione (00:03:25)

II. Rondo: Allegro (00:02:54)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 5 in E-Flat Major (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:08:00 )

I. Allegro (00:03:44)

II. Presto (00:04:18)

Disc 2

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 6 in D Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:13:00 )

I. Cantabile (00:07:20)

II. Allegro (00:06:01)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 7 in B-Flat Major (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:11:00 )

I. Allegro (00:03:10)

II. Andante (00:03:42)

III. Presto (00:03:54)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 8 in A Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:07:00 )

I. — (00:02:24)

II. Minuetto e Trio (00:04:06)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 9 in F Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:07:00 )

I. Andante amoroso (00:02:40)

II. Allegro assai (00:04:00)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 10 in G Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:11:00 )

I. Allegro (00:06:24)

II. Allegro moderato (00:04:14)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 11 in D Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:14:00 )

I. Andante un poco allegro (00:06:47)

II. Rondeau: Allegro (00:07:34)

Troisième Recueil de Sonates pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement: Sonata No. 12 in C Minor (version for piano) (c1775-85) (00:09:00 )

I. Allegro (00:03:31)

II. Presto (00:04:19)

Total Time: 01:58:03

The Artist(s)

Nicolas Horvath began his music studies at Monaco’s Académie de Musique et de Théâtre Prince Rainier III and soon began to make an impression on a number of artists who would become his mentors. Aged 16 he caught the attention of the American conductor Lawrence Foster before coming to the notice of several distinguished international pianists, including Liszt specialist Leslie Howard. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including First Prize at both the Scriabin and the Luigi Nono International Competitions. He has become noted for hosting concerts of unusual length, sometimes lasting over twelve hours, such as the overnight performance of the complete piano music of Erik Satie at the Paris Philharmonie before a cumulative audience of 14,000 people. In 2019 he performed alongside Philip Glass at the same venue in a programme devoted to the American composer’s piano music. Horvath’s extensive and varied discography on Grand Piano includes the highly acclaimed Philip Glass solo piano music edition, Glassworlds; the complete piano works of Erik Satie; piano sonatas by the Estonian composer Jaan Rääts and music by the American experimental composer Alvin Lucier; Carl Czerny’s 30 Études; and lesser-known piano music by Claude Debussey, Anne-Louise Brillion de Jouy and Hélène de Montgeroult. Nicolas is a Steinway Artist.

The Composer(s)

In addition to her gifts as an instrumentalist, Madame Brillon also composed. She has almost 90 works to her credit, most of them chamber music. She wrote for keyboard, but also composed sonatas for cello, violin or harp, trios, and sometimes vocal music which one can imagine her two daughters performing. Her music was only played in private settings, in particular at her own salons. None of her works were published during her lifetime. This is not an oversight but a choice: at that time, it was not the done thing for a woman of Anne-Louise’s standing to make her music public. Composition and playing music had to be reserved for the private sphere.

Reviews

“The interpretation and sincere commitment of Nicolas Horvath contributes much to the beauty of this disc. A delicate touch, full of elegance, subtle phrasing and above all, a crystalline sound produced throughout…” – Utmisol

“Her [Brillon de Jouy] piano music is full of technical innovations worthy of Czerny and Liszt! And Nicolas Horvath has planned to continue this series devoted to forgotten French women composers. We can’t wait!” – Réforme

“With his light touch and, at times, quick tempos, Nicolas Horvath knows how to plunge us into pre-Revolution Paris. Works to be rediscovered.” – Classica

“The pianist Nicolas Horvath brings to light the music of Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy, hitherto unpublished. A delightful encounter with a refined artist and a woman of spirit.” – La Croix

“Nicolas Horvath’s performance is light, fluid and impresses with unaffected simplicity, which is especially beneficial to the slow movements. The recording crew has provided a direct and relatively dry piano sound, which is appropriate for this repertoire. ” – Pizzicato

“…it is always a joy to discover new scores, especially when they are performed with such committed interpretation… This disc, thoughtful and audacious, will please the curious and music lovers alike.” – Bertrand Ferrier

Also Available

“[Horvath] has made another great recording of obscure repertoire like this current release… These are works that are well worth hearing, with superb playing, great recorded sound, and comprehensive booklet essays.” — American Record Guide

“Horvath succeeds in the right mix of laconicism, nonchalance and mischievous irony, all with gripping, compact sound and clear contours, always with a feel for the wit in the precious little details.” — Concerti

“Most of the pieces are under one minute, but the overall effectiveness of the 16-minute group is always engaging and interesting. The attention Horvath pays to every little detail of every little piece makes for a great start to a projected series.” — Fanfare

“An altogether fascinating study of what might have been. ” — Musical Opinion