Anne Queffelec

[MickyD]

She will be at the little theatre in Arles tomorrow evening for a recital of well known pieces by Chopin, Beethoven and Debussy. I'm not doing too badly, what with Jordi Savall on Sunday and now this, two great artists I've never seen before in the space of a week!

[smittims]

I hope you enjoy it. A fine pianist. I treasure her Erato set of the Schubert four-hands pieces with Imogen Cooper, long available on an Apex 2-CD set.

[MickyD]

I hope you enjoy it. A fine pianist. I treasure her Erato set of the Schubert four-hands pieces with Imogen Cooper, long available on an Apex 2-CD set.

Thanks. Some time ago she released a disc of Bach pieces on Mirare that got rave reviews. I'm tempted!

[Maclintick]

Thanks. Some time ago she released a disc of Bach pieces on Mirare that got rave reviews. I'm tempted!

I still value the 2-CD set of Ravel piano music she made for Virgin Classics in the 90s. Do report back on tonight's concert, MickyD.

[bluestateprommer]

Here's the link from the Théâtre d’Arles website on this concert by AQ:

https://www.theatre-arles.com/evenement/recital-de-piano/

[MickyD]

I still value the 2-CD set of Ravel piano music she made for Virgin Classics in the 90s. Do report back on tonight's concert, MickyD.

It was a sublime recital. She had devised the programme around the theme of contemplation, playing short pieces by Bach, Chopin, Handel, and Debussy without a break, ending with the Beethoven 'Moonlight' and as an encore, a Gnossienne by Satie. She looked very frail (77, I gather) but played with the most extraordinary limpidity. The intimate atmosphere of this little theatre was the perfect setting, you could have heard a pin drop. Miss Queffelec gave her fascinating thoughts on the music at the beginning and at the second half of the programme, plus an extraordinary message of thanks to the absorbed and attentive audience once the applause had died down. An enchanting evening, so pleased I grabbed the last two seats!

[Roslynmuse]

That sounds wonderful. I heard her do a recital at a similar sounding venue, the Theatre in the Forest up in the Lake District, maybe around 1994, and the intimate atmosphere and repertoire made it a most memorable evening. Her disc of Dutilleux's complete piano music is to be recommended!

[Maclintick]

Glad you nabbed those last two tickets, Micky D, and thanks for your elegant description of the recital. Out of curiosity, did you clock what instrument she played ?

[MickyD]

Glad you nabbed those last two tickets, Micky D, and thanks for your elegant description of the recital. Out of curiosity, did you clock what instrument she played ?

Eek, sorry to say I didn't. It was a very fine looking large concert grand for sure. I was too far from the stage.

[french frank]

Eek, sorry to say I didn't. It was a very fine looking large concert grand for sure. I was too far from the stage.

She's listed as a 'Steinway Artist' and googling Steinway Anne Queffélec brings up several hits which suggest the Steinway grand is indeed her usual instrument.

[MickyD]

She's listed as a 'Steinway Artist' and googling Steinway Anne Queffélec brings up several hits which suggest the Steinway grand is indeed her usual instrument.

It certainly looked like one.

[Maclintick]

Thanks Micky D & FF. If you're a touring pianist it must be a great comfort to know that the Steinway network will endeavour to find a recital-ready instrument wherever you're performing -- within reason, of course.

[MickyD]

Thanks Micky D & FF. If you're a touring pianist it must be a great comfort to know that the Steinway network will endeavour to find a recital-ready instrument wherever you're performing -- within reason, of course.

I have a feeling that I read she was doing the same concert in Aix-en-Provence, not far from here.