Gramophone Magazine
May 2023
Editor's Choice

Jean Rondeau (harpsichord)

Palestrina: Ricercar del primo tuono
Fux: Harpeggio
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Hob.XVI:46
Clementi: Gradus ad Parnassum, Op. 44: No. 45 in C Minor, Andante malinconico
Beethoven: Two Preludes, Op. 39: No. 2
Debussy: Docteur Gradus ad Parnassum (from Children's Corner)
Beethoven: Prelude in F minor WoO 55
Clementi: Gradus ad Parnassum, Op. 44 No. 14
Mozart: Fantasia in D minor, K397
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K545 'Facile': II. Andante
Fux: Ciaconna in D major
Palestrina: Ricercar Secondo Tono

An intriguing new album by Warner Classics’ star harpsichordist featuring diverse composers: Palestrina, Fux, Beethoven, Mozart, Debussy…

Pushes beyond the boundaries of Jean’s favourite repertoire in the direction of Beethoven, guided along the way by two geniuses with considerable influence on his art: Johann Joseph Fux and Muzio Clementi

Both wrote fundamental works called Gradus ad Parnassum (literally “Ascent to Parnassus”), which are featured on this album. The first is a Viennese baroque work recommended to him by his master Joseph Haydn, the second an Italian classic which includes in its “Gradus” a series of piano studies (which are known to have affected Beethoven greatly), and the third “ad Parnassum” is Debussy’s famous “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum” from Children's Corner.

"the overriding lesson to be learnt is just what a flexible and expressive medium the harpsichord can be – perhaps more than any of us had realised before." - Gramophone Magazine, May 2023