Angela Hewitt’s hugely successful first volume of François Couperin’s Pièces de Clavecin presented works from Books II and III of the cycle. Here we have a further twenty-one pieces, this time from Book IV.

Critical acclaim for the first volume (Hyperion CDA67440) surely makes this new disc a self-recommending classic.

Pièces de clavecin, Book 4
1 25e. Ordre, No 1: La Visionaire (3’47)
2 25e. Ordre, No 2: La Misterieuse (4’52)
3 25e. Ordre, No 3: La Monflambert (1’51)
4 25e. Ordre, No 4: La Muse victorieuse (2’30)
5 25e. Ordre, No 5: Les ombres errantes (4’03)
6 21e. Ordre, No 1: La Reine des cœurs (3’22)
7 21e. Ordre, No 2: La Bondissante (1’45)
8 21e. Ordre, No 3: La Couperin (4’09)
9 21e. Ordre, No 4: La Harpée (2’47)
10 21e. Ordre, No 5: La petite Pince-sans-rire (1’48)
11 24e. Ordre, No 3: Les dars-homicides (2’38)
12 24e. Ordre, No 8: L’Amphibie (7’03)
13 26e. Ordre, No 1: La Convalescente (4’38)
14 26e. Ordre, No 2: Gavote (1’59)
15 26e. Ordre, No 3: La Sophie (4’09)
16 26e. Ordre, No 4: L’Epineuse (4’17)
17 26e. Ordre, No 5: La Pantomime (3’49)
18 27e. Ordre, No 1: L’Exquise (3’46)
19 27e. Ordre, No 2: Les Pavots (4’19)
20 27e. Ordre, No 3: Les Chinois (2’47)
21 27e. Ordre, No 4: Saillie (2’34)

“In the expert hands of Angela Hewitt, François ‘Le Grand’ Couperin makes as easy a transition from harpsichord to piano as has Bach. The difference is that many people may – and should – now be listening to Couperin for the first time.” (The Guardian)

“For someone of Angela Hewitt’s pulling power to invite her fans so enticingly down so unfashionable a path…is brave; and it’s right”(BBC Music Magazine)