Nicolas Matthieu

Pál Hermann, born in Budapest in 1902, was not only one of the leading cellists of his generation; he was also an important composer, one of the major figures in Hungarian music in the generation after his teachers Bartók and Kodály. But since only two of his works were published before his early death – in 1944, at the hands of the Nazis – and many more of them were lost, he has not had the esteem that he deserves. The kaleidoscopic variety of the works on this third, and final, volume of his surviving compositions – biting Bartókian piano pieces, Neo-Baroque essays of considerable contrapuntal ingenuity, songs with a French Impressionist flavour, even a sly transcription of a foxtrot – underlines how much was lost with his murder.

Après plus de trente ans à l’Opéra national de Paris, Nicolas Le Riche, danseur étoile charismatique devenu star, avait tiré sa révérence en juillet 2014. Des Ballets russes avec Nijinski à Mats Ek, en passant par Béjart ("Le boléro" de Ravel) et "Caligula", dont il signe la chorégraphie, un hommage à un siècle de danse.

As its title suggests, this CD-book has something to delight every palate. It brings together some of the most truculent drinking songs ever to grace a Renaissance monarch’s table. A sumptuous buffet of Rabelaisian verse, seasoned with a wide variety of sauces prepared by the finest chefs of French polyphony – Claudin de Sermisy, Fréneau (a Fricassée!), Compère, Certon, Clemens non Papa and many others – and garnished with a delicious side-order of paintings and recipes by the great masters!

Pianist Stéphan Oliva started making a name for himself in the jazz world in the early 90s through his work in trio based on his own compositions. He’s been playing with American drummer Paul Motian and Bruno Chevillon since 1997. Two records, “Fantasm” and “Intérieur nuit”, were released as a result of the trio’s work honouring Paul Motian’s compositions.