SAMAZEUILH

COMPLETE PIANO WORKS

OLIVIER CHAUZU, Piano

“I felt that it was a great injustice that Gustave Samazeuilh is not as well-known and celebrated as he was at the beginning of the 20th century and I thought that this situation had to be remedied. The richness of his world can be heard in each piece, which demonstrates either French heritage at times, or Wagnerism in other moments. Since I have recorded Dukas' complete piano works already, I thought that it was important to do the same for this composer, who lived during the same period.”
– Olivier Chauzu

Listen to an extract from Nocturne

GP669

GUSTAVE SAMAZEUILH

About this Recording

A pupil of Dukas and a lifelong friend of Ravel, the composer, pianist and critic Gustave Samazeuilh was a central figure in Parisian musical life over many decades. His skill as a pianist can be heard in the majestic colours and intense virtuosity of Le Chant de la mer (The song of the sea). From the Classical discipline of the Suite en sol (Suite in G) to the later Nocturne (the composer’s transcription of his symphonic poem Nuit), and Quatre Esquisses (Four Sketches), Samazeuilh’s voice emerges as one of remarkable originality and superb musical realisation.

1 NOCTURNE (1938)^* (09:58)

     PIANO SUITE IN G MINOR (1902)     (16:24)
2   I. Prelude     (03:05)
3   II. Française     (02:50)
4   III. Sarabande     (02:56)
5   IV. Divertissement     (02:08)
6   V. Musette     (02:04)
7   VI. Forlane     (03:21)

8 CHANSON À MA POUPÉE (1903) (02:43)

9 NAÏADES AU SOIR (1910) (06:25)

     3 PETITES INVENTIONS (1903)    (05:00)
10    No. 1. Petite invention à 2 parties     (00:54)
11    No. 2. Petite invention à 3 parties    (01:03)
12    No. 3. Petite invention à 4 parties    (03:03)

        ESQUISSES (1944)    (10:15)
13   No. 1. Dédicace (pour un album)     (02:02)
14   No. 2. Luciole     (01:01)
15   No. 3. Sérénade (pour la main gauche seule)    (03:59)
16   No. 4. Souvenir (pour la main droite seule)     (03:13)

17 EVOCATION (1947) (03:04)

        LE CHANT DE LA MER (1919)      (20:25)
18   No. 1. Prélude    (04:16)
19   No. 2. Claire de lune au large     (06:56)
20   No. 3. Tempête et lever du jour sur les ﬂots     (09:13)

^* WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDINGS

TOTAL TIME: 74:09

OLIVIER CHAUZU

Pianist Olivier Chauzu trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, where he obtained First Prize for Piano followed by First Prize in Chamber music, studying under Gabriel Tacchino, Théodore Paraschivesko, Jean-Claude Pennetier and György Sebök. He was also a pupil of Leon Fleisher, Vitaly Margoulis and Dimitri Bashkirov before further studies at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Alberta, Canada. A prizewinner in Barcelona’s 1989 Maria Canals International competition, he went on to be awarded the Prix Claude Debussy in the Yvonne Lefébure competition in Saint-Germain-en-Laye the following year.

RECOMMENDED RECORDINGS

GP641

"[Grand Piano] have catapulted up to the very top of piano releases with CD I simply cannot praise enough. What a fantastic discovery!" – Pianist

GP601

"Burleson handles the technical hurdles with aplomb in superbly polished performances." – Culture Catch on Saint-Saëns Complete Piano Works • 1

GP624

"Every piece is well crafted, and played with sensitivity…" – Fanfare

GP679

“The music is ear opening and will most certainly appeal to the high-modernist audiophile. They stretch your ears and give pleasure in the process. Recommended…” – Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review

For enquiries contact info@grandpianorecords.com Visit us on