Album: Fauré, Complete Barcarolles – Charles Owen (Avie)

So easy on the ear are Fauré's Barcarolles that their sophistication can pass almost unnoticed.

These are the urbane descendants of Chopin's pianistic brilliants, gentlemanly and understated. Charles Owen's beautifully judged and articulated performance deftly reveals the intricacy of Fauré's craft without loss of line, from the seemingly carefree balletic shimmer of the 1885 G flat major to the darker harmonies of the 1915 E flat major.