April 5, 1869 Tourcoing - August 23, 1937 Royan

Many renowned musicians and singers performed premieres of Albert Roussel, including Alfred Cortot, Jane Bathori, Robert Casadesus, Serge Koussevitzky, Marthe Dron and Louis Fournier. Roussel's music had a lasting impact on subsequent generations of composers. Even Witold Lutosławski described the important influence of Roussel's 1st Symphony on his own music.

For piano, Roussel wrote a rather concise but varied œuvre: a compact, gripping Piano Concerto (1927), some solo works and chamber music with piano. Particularly moving is his short composition Accueil des Muses (1920) in memoriam Claude Debussy.

Check out the PIANOVERSAL listening tips with keyboard music by Albert Roussel

 PIANOVERSAL listening tips: Albert Roussel

Concerto pour piano et orchestre (1927)
youtube_Roussel_piano_concerto

Claude Helfer (piano), l’orchestre des Cento soli, Serge Baudo (dir)
1. Allegro molto (00:00) 2. Adagio (04:15) 3. Allegro con spirito (13:28)

Here is an interesting essay about Roussel’s Piano Concerto by Christoph Schlüren (D/E):
piano_concerto_Roussel_Schlueren_repertoire-explorer

Suite for Piano, Op. 14 (1909-1910)
youtube_Roussel_suite_op14

1. Prélude 2. Sicilienne 3. Bourrée 4. Ronde
Alain Raës - piano
(Recording 1979)

 
L’Accueil des Muses (in memoriam Debussy) for piano (1920)
youtube_Roussel_acceuil_des_Muses
Tomer Lev - piano

Joueurs de flûte (1924) for flute & piano
youtube_Roussel_joueurs
1. Pan - 2. Tityre - 3. Krishna - 4. Mr. de la Péjaudie
Jiří Válek - flute, Josef Hála - piano

Trio for piano, violin and cello op. 2 (1902; rev. 1927)
youtube_Roussel_pianotrio_op2
1. Modéré, sans lenteur 2. Lent 3. Tres lent-Vif et gaîment
Jet Röling, piano; Jean-Jacques Kantorow, violin; Herre-Jan Stegenga, cello
(Recorded 1994)

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Albert Roussel: Composer of the Week No. 20 / June 2018