Review by Fadhel Qal – Sad Birds

Although the idea of ​​combining Debussy and Ravel in an album with the harpsichord works of François Couperin is not new, it is nevertheless plausible and coherent. Ultimately, tonal references to French “classicism” can be made, especially in a cycle such as Debussy’s “Suite bergamasque”. Couperin on a modern grand piano, however, is a matter of taste. Even if Say emphasizes the ornaments, they are ultimately too thick and pasty. Debussy could do with more dreamy lightness and bolder rhythmic accents. Ravel is clearly closer to what Fazil Say did: the iridescent, mercurial quality of the Miroirs creates magic. Above all, the pianist, who is also a famous composer, succeeds admirably in emphasizing Ravel’s ambiguity, that is, the darkness and menace, even the distorted grotesque, behind the cheerful appearance. He explores this in depth and in this way demonstrates Ravel’s modernity.

Gloomy Birds
Couperin: Ordre XXI in E minor from Quatrième Livre de pièces de clavecin, Debussy: Suite bergamasque, Ravel: Miroirs

Fadhel Say (piano)
Warner