Thinking back on his piano teacher, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet recalls a “sunny, radiant character, who, through his music, his kindness, his openness and largeness of spirit, his passion for sharing his knowledge, inspired and enlightened so many of us”.
Pierre Sancan (1916-2008) was clearly an exceptional piano teacher, but also rather more. A composer of delightful and infectious character, he left enough music to fill this disc, plus a ballet, an opera, solo piano music and more.
The centrepiece is his high-octane Piano Concerto, given its premiere with Sancan as soloist in 1955. The work shows off the technical skills that one might expect from a pianist-composer and Bavouzet glitters in it, but the concerto is more than just an exercise. Here are the many sides of Sancan’s personality, outgoing, bittersweet in its lyricism, with a madcap sense of humour for the finale, all wrapped in sumptuous and dramatic orchestral textures, well captured by Chandos’s recording team.
The Sonatine for flute and piano, his best-known piece these days, has the piquant elegance of Ravel and is played with grace by flautist Adam Walker with Bavouzet as accompanist. The Symphonie for string orchestra (1961) is reminiscent of the attacking rhythms and mysterious night music of Bartók, unexpected but rewarding.
Throw in a couple of wildly joyous orchestral numbers, played with élan by the BBC Philharmonic under Yan Pascal Tortelier, and a handful of sparkling piano solos from Bavouzet, and the tribute is complete. A grateful pupil has done his teacher proud.
★★★★☆
‘Pierre Sancan: A Musical Tribute’ is released by Chandos
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