Review of Bertrand Chamayo – The Letter(s) to Erik Satie

After the recordings from the Romantic period and the end of the century came Messiaen. Now Bertrand Chamayo surprises again with a new CD reference: it shows the connections between Erik Satie’s Nonconformists and John Cage. Cage’s work dedicated to Satie sounds like a “Gymnopédie”. Other cage pieces are called “Introduction to Meditation,” “Room,” “In Landscape,” or “Swing.” This is music that, at best, works without intention, without hierarchy, without overbearing emotional strategies, without narrative gestures, without coercion. Music as a state in itself, quite in the spirit of Satie. Chamayo regains his swagger in his interpretations: nothing is conceived in vain, but everything is precise and focused. He masters informal play, which unfolds freely thanks to his sophisticated playing style. A wonderful compilation, expertly interpreted. The only thing in these difficult times.

Letter(s) to Erik Satie
Works by Satie, Cage and Tenney

Bertrand Chamayo (piano)
Erato

Bertrand Chamayo

Bertrand Chamayo was born in Toulouse and was discovered early by the pianist Jean-François Hesser, who later became Chamayo’s teacher at the Paris Conservatoire. Additional studies then took Bertrand Chamayo to Maria Curcio in London, among others. With him…continue