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Without any hesitation, we had to award a Qobuzissime to L'Heure bleue, the second album by Quatuor Zahir. Because in the classical world, the saxophone quartet is still too rare a format on both record and on stage. Because the impressionist works of Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc, and Boulanger dazzle us, as do the creations of Fabien Waksman and Graciane Finzi. Because of the refinement and sophistication of these arrangements. Because of the impeccable sound recording—always a highlight of the Aparté label. Because of the beauty of the title, "L'Heure Bleue," which sums up the driving idea behind this powerful record. “This ephemeral moment at the crossroads of day and night—such could be the dream setting for this new opus. An invitation to a dreamlike journey," explain the members of the quartet—Guillaume Berceau, Etienne Boussard, Florent Louman, and Joakim Cielsa. Five years after their debut, the quartet took the time to construct this recital piece by piece, with the patience of goldsmiths or those who have a taste for beauty and precision of gesture. Like a landscape with changing colors and moods—from the lively (Debussy's "Quant j'ai ouy le tabourin") and languorous (Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte"), to the playfulness of the last of Boulanger's Trois Pièces—in L'Heure bleue we find the gentle reminiscence of a forgotten or fantasized era. Whether the works interpreted here are in their original form or arranged, it becomes almost impossible to distinguish between the two categories, as each track is so immediately appealing. The Zahirs interweave their sublime timbres with consummate artistry, with all the interpretations becoming essentials. © Pierre Lamy/Qobuz
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Trois chansons de Charles d'Orléans, L. 99 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet by Florent Louman) (Claude Debussy)
Claude Debussy, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Florent Louman, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Claude Debussy, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Florent Louman, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Claude Debussy, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Florent Louman, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Maurice Ravel, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Petite Suite, L. 71a (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet by Alexandros Markeas) (Claude Debussy)
Claude Debussy, Composer - Alexandros Markeas, Arranger - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Claude Debussy, Composer - Alexandros Markeas, Arranger - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Fabien Waksman, Composer
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Claude Debussy, Composer - Alexandros Markeas, Arranger - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Claude Debussy, Composer - Alexandros Markeas, Arranger - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Maurice Ravel, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Une Petite Suite (Graciane Finzi)
Graciane Finzi, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Graciane Finzi, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Graciane Finzi, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Graciane Finzi, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Claude Debussy, Composer - Vincent David, Arranger - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Trois Pièces (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet by Guillaume Berceau) (Nadia Boulanger)
Nadia Boulanger, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Nadia Boulanger, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Nadia Boulanger, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Claude Debussy, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Trois Chansons, M. 69 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet by Guillaume Berceau) (Maurice Ravel)
Maurice Ravel, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Maurice Ravel, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Maurice Ravel, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Francis Poulenc, Composer - Quatuor Zahir, MainArtist, ChamberMusicEnsemble - Guillaume Berceau, Arranger
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
Album review
Without any hesitation, we had to award a Qobuzissime to L'Heure bleue, the second album by Quatuor Zahir. Because in the classical world, the saxophone quartet is still too rare a format on both record and on stage. Because the impressionist works of Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc, and Boulanger dazzle us, as do the creations of Fabien Waksman and Graciane Finzi. Because of the refinement and sophistication of these arrangements. Because of the impeccable sound recording—always a highlight of the Aparté label. Because of the beauty of the title, "L'Heure Bleue," which sums up the driving idea behind this powerful record. “This ephemeral moment at the crossroads of day and night—such could be the dream setting for this new opus. An invitation to a dreamlike journey," explain the members of the quartet—Guillaume Berceau, Etienne Boussard, Florent Louman, and Joakim Cielsa. Five years after their debut, the quartet took the time to construct this recital piece by piece, with the patience of goldsmiths or those who have a taste for beauty and precision of gesture. Like a landscape with changing colors and moods—from the lively (Debussy's "Quant j'ai ouy le tabourin") and languorous (Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte"), to the playfulness of the last of Boulanger's Trois Pièces—in L'Heure bleue we find the gentle reminiscence of a forgotten or fantasized era. Whether the works interpreted here are in their original form or arranged, it becomes almost impossible to distinguish between the two categories, as each track is so immediately appealing. The Zahirs interweave their sublime timbres with consummate artistry, with all the interpretations becoming essentials. © Pierre Lamy/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:51
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Quatuor Zahir
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Aparté
- Genre: Classical
2024 Aparté, a label of Little Tribeca 2024 Quatuor Zahir
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