LDV16

This disc derives from a project conceived for the concert hall, which allows you to reap the benefits of an intensive series of public performances. W.L.: Yes, even before the recital at the Palazzetto Bru Zane, I was able to ‘fine tune’ my programme with a series of six concert dates, six days in a row, in the south of France. I originally intended to give each concert with an interval in themiddle. But right from the first day, I abandoned that idea and decided to play the programme right throughwithout a break. I should add that the recitals included Louis Brassin’s transcription of the Ride of theValkyries , but while that piece works well in concert, it didn’t seem judicious to me to have it on the disc. Concert experience teaches you a lot about handling musical time and colours – which turned out to be very precious when I found myself all alone in the studio. In October 2012, I played my recital at the Palazzetto Bru Zane, and there someone suggested I should play the Elegy in A flat major, which I finally used to conclude my disc. The recording also reminds us of your passion for contemporary music, since it features the name of Gérard Pesson. W. L.: I play his music a great deal; I was lucky enough to work extremely closely with himon a project focusing on John Cage, and really to get into his world.When I was thinking of this Wagner disc, I discovered he had written En haut du mât (At the mast top). That gave me the missing link in my programme, since it’s inspired by Tristan , but in this case Act I, and so I decided to record it. 19 WILHEM LATCHOUMIA