'By turning her attention to these works, Angela Hewitt may succeed in reviving and popularising Couperin’s enchanting music as no modern-day harpsichordist has been able to do' (Gramophone)

'not only fabulously played, but also fine-tuned to the sparkle and finesse of Couperin’s world' (Classic FM Magazine)

'Hewitt bridges the gulf between studio and home listener with uncanny directness. An outstanding disc' (BBC Music Magazine)

'Of all living pianists, Hewitt makes the strongest case for hearing Bach on the piano as opposed to harpsichord. Here, she applies the same staggering technique and intellectual grasp to three suites by François Couperin ... outstanding' (The Independent)

'Its virtues are those that distinguish her Bach: Clarity of line, delicacy of touch, a sense of rhythm that neither forgets nor overplays the importance of dance in baroque music' (Independent on Sunday)

'it is the highest possible compliment to her playing to say that after a very few minutes the listener loses any awareness that this is not the instrument for which they were written … playing of exquisite subtlety and refinement (The Daily Telegraph)

'crisply articulated and exquisitely musical playing' (The Sunday Times)

'In all three of the Ordres here, Hewitt finds plenty of variety, and she is always punctilious in her observation of the nuances of Couperin’s ornamentation' (The Guardian)

'the point is of course whether the music is interpreted in a fresh, imaginative way, and that is always the case with Angela Hewitt … here Hewitt has a chance to be witty as well as formidably dextrous – a side to her that is rather attractive' (Pianist)

'Angela Hewitt shows that when properly used the piano can project Couperin's thought with grace and accuracy. Her playing is vividly alive to detail and her choice of tempi is wholly convincing. She is finely recorded. Not to be missed' (Musical Opinion)

'Angela Hewitt's initial foray into the 226 harpsichord pieces of François Couperin, short works that were originally published in 27 Ordres, so deeply appealed to me ... poignant music and the superb performances ... By instinct, inclination, and training, Angela Hewitt emerges as the perfect interpreter of the music of François Couperin' (Ottawa Citizen, Canada)

'particularly haunting, for along with her crisp technique, she adapts many of the expressive devices of the time to the piano' (Turok’s Choice)

		Pièces de clavecin, Book 2
1		06e Ordre No 1: Les moissonneurs  [2:05]
2		06e Ordre No 2: Les langueurs-tendres  [4:57]
3		06e Ordre No 3: Le gazoüillement  [1:55]
4		06e Ordre No 4: La bersan  [2:51]
5		06e Ordre No 5: Les baricades mistérieuses  [2:28]
6		06e Ordre No 6: Les bergeries  [4:09]
7		06e Ordre No 7: La commére  [1:50]
8		06e Ordre No 8: Le moucheron  [2:10]
		Pièces de clavecin, Book 3
9		18e Ordre No 1: La verneüille  [4:34]
10		18e Ordre No 2: La verneüilléte  [1:38]
11		18e Ordre No 3: Sœur Monique  [3:56]
12		18e Ordre No 4: Le turbulent  [1:49]
13		18e Ordre No 5: L'attendrissante  [4:27]
14		18e Ordre No 6: Le tic-toc-choc ou Les maillotins  [2:09]
15		18e Ordre No 7: Le gaillard-boiteux  [3:12]
		Pièces de clavecin, Book 2
16		08e Ordre No 01: La Raphaéle  [5:39]
17		08e Ordre No 02: Allemande. l'Ausoniéne  [2:12]
18		08e Ordre No 03: Première courante  [1:41]
19		08e Ordre No 04: Seconde courante  [2:28]
20		08e Ordre No 05: Sarabande. L'unique  [3:44]
21		08e Ordre No 06: Gavotte  [1:18]
22		08e Ordre No 07: Rondeau  [2:11]
23		08e Ordre No 08: Gigue  [2:38]
24		08e Ordre No 09: Passacaille  [5:42]
25		08e Ordre No 10: La morinéte  [2:19]

 

Other albums in this series

Couperin F: Keyboard Music, Vol. 2 Angela Hewitt (piano) Buy? £13.99

Couperin F: Keyboard Music, Vol. 2 (SACD) Angela Hewitt (piano) Buy? £16.99  Super-Audio CD

Couperin F: Keyboard Music, Vol. 3 Angela Hewitt (piano) Buy? £13.99