More Fauré from Kathleen Long

My previous post of pianist Kathleen Long and the music of Gabriel Fauré  was surprisingly well received, so today I am offering her other recordings of that composer.

This is in the form of a 10-inch London release from 1950, comprising the:

• Theme and Variations in C sharp minor, Op. 73
• Barcarolle No. 1 in A minor, Op. 26
• Nocturne No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 36 

Although Decca-London issued the disc in 1950, only the Barcarolle was newly recorded. The Nocturne is from 1948 and the Theme and Variations from 1943. There is little if any difference in recording quality, however. The sound is good quality mono, here processed in ambient stereo.

I wanted to call the sound "honest," but that would be the pathetic fallacy, wouldn't it? That said, "honest" is one term that critics would sometimes apply to Long's pianism. Here is the critic of the American Record Guide on the music and these performances:

The three works on this disc are among his [Fauré's] best. Mature, reflective. gentle music, yet highly sophisticated in treatment, they grow on one with repeated hearings. It would be ungrateful to over-analyze Miss Long's playing of them, as she is so obviously devoted an interpreter. Suffice it to say that she is an honest pianist, has the notes well in hand, and plays with the utmost sincerity. 

Such faint praise was not universal, however. The New Records opined:

The distinguished English pianist, Kathleen Long, with the aid of [Decca-London's so-called] ffrr recording, makes available on this LP disc some of the finest performances of Fauré piano music that we have heard. This disc amply demonstrates that Miss Long is a thoughtful and highly intelligent artist - she is selfless in projecting the intentions of the composer of the music she plays.

I personally find her playing to be ideal in this composer. The transition from the theme to the first variation in Op. 73 is most affecting, for instance.

Gabriel Fauré and Domenico Scarlatti

Scarlatti - Two Sonatas

Kathleen Long

As a bonus, I've added Long's 1945 recordings of two keyboard sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) - in A major, L45, and B flat major, L46. The composer was immensely prolific, having produced 555 such compositions in his 71 years. Long recorded about 20 of them, including L46 twice. This small sampling shows she was a sympathetic performer, although perhaps not in a style that might be favored today.

The Scarlatti performances were remastered from Internet Archive originals. The Fauré LP is from my collection.

LINK