Satie - Works for solo piano and piano 4-hands
Katia & Marielle Labèque
KML KML1120

Release date October 2009

Katia and Marielle Labèque have turned to Satie for the latest release on their own label, KML. The disc is enticing from the outset, covering a broad spectrum of Satie’s writing. As the sleeve notes explain, the sisters have divided the works for solo piano equally between them 'in harmony with their respective temperaments'. And so Marielle has chosen pieces which demonstrate her precision (such as Sports et Divertissements and Véritables Préludes Flasques). Katia’s choices (she is described here as the dreamier of the two women) include the Gnossiennes and d’Edriophthalma from Embryons Desséchés. Notably, the familiar Gymnopédies have been split between them, and I was struck by how happily my ear coped with the changes of pianist. There are enough similarities in their playing for the frequent alternations between Katia and Marielle to pay off. For me, it is the four-hand piano works that make this disc special, and the pieces selected here both complement and contrast with the solo piano repertoire. A highlight of the duets is Trois petites pièces montées which are both catchy and gleefully spiky. Of these, the opening De L’Enfance de Pantagruel is slightly spooky, progressing through to the somewhat silly Jeux de Gargantua. It is very hard to imagine the Labèques not enjoying themselves here. There are other delightful moments throughout this CD; La Pêche even includes a hint of birdsong in the background! The accompanying notes, whilst quite minimal, make for interesting reading: Satie never wrote for the concert hall, instead focusing on writing 'primarily for pianists, including those amateurs who, in the days before records, played the scores themselves when they wanted to listen to music'.

Reviewed by Ruth Squire