“Erik Satie is an icon of the Belle Epoque - a period of peace and prosperity in France, that was marked by a flourishing of arts, culture, and science. His work and lifestyle were deeply intertwined with the café, bar, and cabaret culture of Montmartre - a vibrant hub for artists, musicians, writers, and bohemians, and a centre of experimentation in music, dance and visual arts. This captivating recording celebrates his legacy re-imagined on guitar - the much loved piano works Gymnopedies & Gnossiennes; his art songs; & most popular cabaret melodies. I'm also joined by guest artists Sharon Bezaly (flute) & Héloïse Werner (vocals). The album also celebrates the creativity of the Belle Epoque, also a golden era for French female poets. The newly commissioned song for voice and guitar by Héloïse Werner is a setting of Cécile Sauvage’s beautiful poem, Mélancolie. In this his centenary year, let us raise our hats to this colourful and unconventional character who helped shape the musical landscape of the twentieth century - Chapeau, Satie !”

Xuefei Yang. London, April 2025.

You can listen in Spatial Audio - the recording was made using Dolby Atmos which gives a height dimension to the sound.

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