Gramophone Magazine
Awards Issue 2020
Editor's Choice

Presto Recording of the Week
16th October 2020

Bertrand Chamayou (piano)

Janácek: On An Overgrown Path: Good Night
Liszt: Wiegenlied (Chant du berceau), S198
Lyapunov: Morceaux faciles (6), Op. 59: No. 2 Berceuse d'une poupée
Chopin: Berceuse in D flat major, Op. 57
Lyapunov: Étude d'exécution transcendente, Op. 11 No. 1 'Berceuse'
Villa-Lobos: A Pobrezinha (No. 6 from A Próle do Bébé, Book 1)
Bonis: Miocheries, Op. 126: No. 13, La toute petite s'endort
Grieg: Lyric Pieces Op. 38: No. 1 - Berceuse
Dessner: Song for Octave
Busoni: Berceuse (1909) from Elegien
Liszt: Berceuse S174 (first version)
Lachenmann: Wiegenmusik
Brahms: Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4 (Lullaby)
Martinu: Film en miniature: No. 3, Berceuse
Balakirev: Berceuse
Alkan: J'etait endormie, mais mon coeur veillait, Op.31 No.13

The sixteen lullabies – or berceuses – that pianist Bertrand Chamayou has chosen for Good Night! form a captivatingly varied album. His programme embraces a diversity of eras and musical cultures: Chopin, Liszt, Grieg and, of course, Brahms through Balakirev, Lyapunov, Alkan, Bonis, Busoni, Janáček, Martinů and Villa-Lobos to Helmut Lachenmann and a world premiere, Bryce Dessner’s Song for Octave. “The lullaby’s place is halfway between dream and reality,” says Chamayou, “There is that special moment as you are falling asleep and you experience all kinds of emotions.” A satisfying recital that will also enrich digital playlists, Good Night! has been recorded in Dolby Atmos immersive sound.