Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of autumn with Claude Debussy's "Autumn Sonatas," a captivating classical piano album set to release on October 8, 2025, under Warner Classics. This exquisite collection spans a generous 2 hours and 43 minutes, offering a rich tapestry of compositions that celebrate the essence of the autumn season.
Debussy, renowned for his evocative and impressionistic style, curates a diverse array of pieces that range from his own compositions to works by other classical masters. The album opens with Debussy's own "Feuilles mortes" from Préludes, Livre II, setting the tone for a journey through the season's many moods and colors. From the lively "The Hunt" by Scarlatti to the poignant "Autumn Song" by Tchaikovsky, each track is a testament to the beauty and depth of autumn.
The album is a harmonious blend of well-known classics and lesser-known gems, featuring works by composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart, Chopin, and many more. Each piece is meticulously selected and performed, showcasing Debussy's mastery and the timeless appeal of classical music.
"Autumn Sonatas" is not just an album; it's an experience. It invites you to savor the crisp air, the vibrant hues, and the nostalgic charm of autumn through the universal language of music. Whether you're a seasoned classical enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises to enchant and inspire. Prepare to be transported to a world where every note tells a story, and every melody paints a picture of autumn's timeless allure.
Debussy: Préludes, Livre II, CD 131, L. 123: No. 2, Feuilles mortesClaude Debussy, Michel Béroff
Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in C Major, Kk. 159 "The Hunt"Domenico Scarlatti, György Cziffra
Massenet: Année passée, Livre II "Jours d'automne": I. Feuilles jaunies. Assez lentJules Massenet, Aldo Ciccolini
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 "Autumn": I. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Il Giardino Armonico, Enrico Onofri, Giovanni Antonini
Lully: Phaëton, LWV 61, Act 4: "C'est par vous, ô Soleil, que le ciel s'illumine" (L'Automne)Jean-Baptiste Lully, Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Jerome Varnier
Liszt: 6 Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini, S. 140: No. 5, La chasseFranz Liszt, Cecile Ousset
Delibes: Sylvia, Act 1: No. 3, Fanfare. Les chasseressesLéo Delibes, André Cluytens, Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra Paris
Janáček: On an Overgrown Path, Book I: No. 2, A Blown-Away LeafLeoš Janáček, Mikhail Rudy
Couperin, F: Premier livre de pièces de clavecin, Cinquième ordre: XII. Les vendangeusesFrançois Couperin, Laurence Boulay
Gershwin: A Foggy DayGeorge Gershwin, Stéphane Grappelli, Yehudi Menuhin, Laurie Holloway, Pierre Michelot, Ronnie Verrell
Weber: Der Freischütz, Op. 77, J. 277, Act 3: Huntsmen's Chorus. "Was gleicht wohl auf Erden dem Jägervergnügen?" (Chor)Carl Maria von Weber, Bernard Haitink, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Prokofiev: Cinderella, Op. 87, Act 1: No. 15, Autumn FairySergei Prokofiev, André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra
The Christian Harmony: No. 8, Harvest HymnJeremiah Ingalls, Joel Cohen, Boston Camerata
Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act 4: Song. "See, See My Many Colour'd Fields"Henry Purcell, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Geraint Rogers
MacDowell: New England Idyls, Op. 62: No. 10, The Joy of AutumnEdward MacDowell, Michel Legrand
Tormis: Swing Songs: No. 6, The Apple TreeVeljo Tormis, Tõnu Kaljuste, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Lortzing: Undine, Act 4: "Im Wein ist Wahrheit nur allein" (Hans, Veit)Albert Lortzing, Robert Heger, Gottlob Frick, Peter Schreier, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Strauss, R: 4 Letzte Lieder: No. 2, SeptemberRichard Strauss, Anneliese Rothenberger, London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn
Benatzky: Im weißen Rössl, Act 2: "Äpfel! Birnen!" (Josepha, Leopold, Chor)Ralph Benatzky, Willy Mattes, Anneliese Rothenberger, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Peter Minich, Das Münchner Rundfunkorchester
Bach, JS: Was mir behagt, BWV 208 "Jagdkantate": No. 12, Duett. "Entzücket uns beide ihr Strahlen der Freude"Johann Sebastian Bach, Karl Forster, Annelies Kupper, Fritz Wunderlich, Berliner Symphoniker
Paganini: 24 Caprices, Op. 1: No. 9 in E Major "The Hunt"Niccolò Paganini, Frank Peter Zimmermann
Lehár: Das Land des Lächelns, Act 3: Duett. "Zig, zig, zig! Wenn die Chrysanthemen blühen" (Mi, Gustl)Franz Lehár, Willi Boskovsky, Brigitte Lindner, Martin Finke, Das Münchner Rundfunkorchester
Glass: Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons": Movement IPhilip Glass, Delirium Musicum, Étienne Gara
Ligeti: Études pour piano, Livre I: No. 7, Automne à VarsovieGyörgy Ligeti, Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Hill: Voices of AutumnJackson Hill, Chanticleer
Mozart: String Quartet No. 17 in B-Flat Major, Op. 10 No. 3, K. 458 "Hunt": I. Allegro vivace assaiWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: The Seasons, Hob. XXI:3, Autumn: No. 23, Terzett und Chor. "So lohnet die Natur den Fleiss" (Simon, Hanne, Lukas, Chorus)Joseph Haydn, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Angela Maria Blasi, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Josef Protschka, Robert Holl, Wiener Symphoniker
Schumann: 11 Jungendlieder: No. 8, Im HerbsteRobert Schumann, Thomas Hampson, Geoffrey Parsons
Pierné: Paysages franciscains, Op. 43: II. Les olivaies de la plaine d'Assise. Crépuscule d'automneGabriel Pierné, Pierre Dervaux, Orchestre Philharmonique des Pays de Loire
Bartók: En plein air, Sz. 81: V. La chasseBéla Bartók, Michel Béroff
Boismortier: Cantates françoises, Op. 5 "Les quatre saisons", No. 3, L'automne: Air. "C’est en fait, par Bacchus"Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Gérard Souzay, Jean-François Paillard, Orchestre de chambre Jean-François Paillard
Berlioz: Le chasseur danois, H 104bHector Berlioz, John Eliot Gardiner, Gilles Cachemaille, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon
Charpentier: Dispute de bergers, H. 484 "Il faut rire et chanter": II. Brouillards, glaçons, neige, frimasMarc-Antoine Charpentier, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Patricia Petibon, Sophie Daneman