La Danse
Martin James Bartlett (piano)
There’s much rewarding playing; Bartlett is a highly expressive musician. If his Romantic Rameau remains rather earthbound, his Couperin flickers with a cosy firelight warmth...La valse is all...
La Danse
Martin James Bartlett (piano)
Purchase product
There’s much rewarding playing; Bartlett is a highly expressive musician. If his Romantic Rameau remains rather earthbound, his Couperin flickers with a cosy firelight warmth...La valse is all...
About
“Being someone who is rather awful at dancing, the only way I can explore the medium of dance is through music making! This programme idea came about from two contrasting elements: my love of Rameau’s Gavotte & Doubles and Ravel’s La Valse. ... Seeing as dance is often collaborative I am thrilled to have been joined by the wonderful pianist Alexandre Tharaud in some eclectic, lesser known works by Reynaldo Hahn. I am thrilled to release this project!” –Martin James Bartlett
A selection of French repertoire from the Baroque to Ravel and Hahn. Includes Rameau’s Gavotte & Six Double sand Suite in A minor; Couperin's Les Barricades Mystérieuses and Rondeau; and Ravel's La Valse.
Features Alexandre Tharaud in a Reynaldo Hahn piece for 2 pianos: Le Ruban Dénoué.
“This showcases an outstanding keyboard talent at the top of his game in repertoire that he clearly has an affinity and fondness for.”-Gramophone on his 2022 album of Rachmaninov and Gershwin.
Contents and tracklist
Spotlight on this release
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Martin James Bartlett on Bach, Mozart and Britten
12th Mar 2026
The British pianist discusses his new album of early concertos by Bach and Mozart plus Britten's Young Apollo, recorded in Salzburg with the Mozarteumorchester and Howard Griffiths.
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Episode 47: An Invitation to the Dance – Storming the ‘barricades mystérieuses’ with Martin James Bartlett
27th Jan 2024
The pianist talks about his trio of recordings for Warner Classics, explains why his latest album mercifully didn’t require him to get his own feet moving - well, not much, anyway - and ponders the role of dance-inspired music within the broader classical repertoire.
Awards and reviews
March 2024
There’s much rewarding playing; Bartlett is a highly expressive musician. If his Romantic Rameau remains rather earthbound, his Couperin flickers with a cosy firelight warmth...La valse is all rumbling menace in Bartlett's hands, packed with punchy bass chords and roaring glissandos. His vision of the piece is rather choppy, but it’s often exciting nonetheless.
February 2024
If anything, what surprises me about the new album is Bartlett’s reserved approach – his avoidance of sentimental, colouristic or dramatic antics. Instead, he sounds as though on a mission to reveal the purely musical essence of the works.
20th January 2024
Now in his late 20s, he has become a probing, thoughtful player, directing his exciting virtuosity at the service of a wide range of composers…Variety, delight and seriousness combine in this recital. Bartlett concludes with that dizzying, waltzing masterpiece, Ravel’s La Valse.
