François Devienne
Le Mozart française

Mathieu Lussier, bassoon / basson
Olivier Thouin, violin / violon
Jean-Luc Plourde, viola / alto
Benoicirc;t Loiselle, cello / violoncelle

ACD2 2364

, one of North America's most active bassoonists, proposes here a record devoted to the bassoon music of the French composer François Devienne (1759-1803).   A virtuoso flutist and bassoonist, Devienne composed works that made a great many impressive technical demands.   The “Three Quartets Op.73,” for bassoon, violin, viola, and cello, is one of the best-written sets of bassoon music ever. Their close stylistic ties with Mozart's Quartets for flute and strings explains why Devienne has often been called - as in the title of this CD - the French Mozart.

To perform these works, Matthieu Lussier has teamed up with remarkable musicians, all very active as soloists and chamber musicians: The violinist Olivier Thouin, 1997 “Prix d'Europe” winner and Associate Concertmaster of Ottawa's National Arts Centre Orchestra, the violist Jean-Luc Plourde, founding member of the Alcan String Quartet, with which he has given over 500 concerts in North America and Japan, and the cellist Benoît Loiselle, Principal Cello of Les Violons du Roy and founding member of the Hochelaga Trio, with which he recently recorded an ATMA CD featuring the Piano Trios of Pierné and Fauré (ACD22355).

François Devienne (1759-1803): Quatuor op. 73 n° 1 en do majeur | in C major 17:07   1 Allegro spiritoso 10:08   2 Adagio cantabile 2:52   3 Rondo. Allegro moderato 4:07 Quatuor op. 73 n° 2 en fa majeur | in F major 18:53   4 Allegro 8:22   5 Adagio 4:15   6 Grazioso con variazioni 6:16 Quatuor op. 73 n° 3 en sol mineur | In G minor 18:13   7 Allegro con espressivo 8:59   8 Adagio, non troppo 4:44   9 Rondo. Allegretto poco moderato 4:30 Concerto en si bémol majeur | in B flat major 9:40      (arr. Mathieu Lussier) 10 Romance 5:48 11 Rondo 3:52 « Les Visitandines » ( 1795) 8:31      opéra-comique, extraits | excerpts      (arr. Mathieu Lussier) 12 Air : « Qu'on est heureux! » 3:47 13 Air : « Enfant chéri des dames » 4:44