Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 33
1 I. Allegro	08:28
2 II. Adagio sostenuto	08:06
3 III. Minuetto. Allegro	05:02
4 IV. Finale. Vivace	06:08

Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 34
5 I. Andante - Allegro	09:33
6 II. Tema con variazioni - Sostenuto - Andante semplice	08:12
7 III. Rondo. Allegro	05:49

Mary Ellen Haupert - piano
Nancy Oliveros - violin
Laura Sewell - cello 

On this new release, Centaur Records presents Louise Dumont Farrenc’s Piano Trios Op. 33 and Op. 34. These beautiful 19th century piano works are performed here by pianist Mary Ellen Haupert, violinist Nancy Oliveros, and cellist Laura Sewell. Louise Dumont Farrenc (1804-1875) was a French composer, pianist, and teacher. She completed 49 compositions with Opus numbers. ---arkivmusic.com

I enjoyed the wonderful ensemble, and especially the interplay of musical lines in this performance by a trio of ladies from the Midwest. They have impressive individual biographies. The sound is great, the performances quite good. Haupert's booklet notes are both informative and interesting. And I really like Farrenc's music, so this disc will remain on my active listening stack for the foreseeable future. ---American Record Guide, hbdirect.com

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Sextet For Piano And Wind In C Minor, Op 40 	
1 	I Allegro 	9:38
2 	II Andante Sostemuto 	6:15
3 	III Allegro Vivace 	7:00

Nonet For Strings And Wind In E Flat, Op 38 
4 	I Adagio - Allegro 	9:24
5 	II Andante Con Moto 	7:48
6 	III Scherzo Vivace 	4:42
7 	IV Adagio - Allegro 	5:30

Trio For Flute, Cello And Piano In E Minor, Op 45 
8 	I Allegro Deciso 	7:36
9 	II Andante 	5:12
10 	III Scherzo: Vivace 	5:05
11 	IV Finale: Presto 	5:09

Bassoon – Brian Sewell
Cello – Naomi Butterworth (tracks: 8 - 11), Susan Dorey (tracks: 4 - 7)
Clarinet – Joan Enric Lluna
Double Bass – Lynda Houghton
Flute – Helen Keen
Horn – Mark Paine
Oboe – Jeremy Polmear
Piano – Diana Ambache
Viola – Martin Outram
Violin – Sophie Langdon

The history books tell us little about Louise Farrenc. Born Jeanne-Louise Dumont in 1804, she entered the Paris Conservatoire at 15, studying composition with Antonín Reicha. At 17, she married the influential publisher Aristide Farrenc, a business acquaintance of Hummel, whose influence, alongside that of Schumann and Weber, became the guiding force for her own compositions. Long before the age of feminism and political correctness, Berlioz wrote that Farrenc’s music displayed ‘a talent rare among women’, and it’s good to find some of it explored on disc, especially in performances as lively and alluring as these. Farrenc’s C minor Sextet is a bold, purposeful work, with an almost Beethovenian rigour and urgency. The Nonet, which was first performed in 1850 by an ensemble led by Joachim, has instant melodic appeal, and a style akin to that of Spohr’s Nonet (1813). These works are played with panache and insight by the Ambache Chamber Ensemble, as is the lyrical Flute Trio which completes this disc. Recorded sound is detailed, but occasionally too clinical for my ears; a welcome find, nonetheless. ---Michael Jameson, classical-music.com

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Sextet for piano and wind quintet in C minor, Op.40 	(27:23)
1-1 	Allegro 	13:34
1-2 	Andante Sostenuto 	6:22
1-3 	Allegro Vivace 	7:27
Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in E flat, Op.44 	(22:14)
2-1 	Andante - Allegro moderato 	10:22
2-2 	Adagio 	0:57
2-3 	Adagio 	4:20
2-4 	Allegro 	6:35
Trio for flute, cello and piano In E Minor, Op.45 	(26:05)
2-5 	Allegro deciso -più moderato ed espressivo 	10:01
2-6 	Andante 	5:44
2-7 	Scherzo 	5:04
2-8 	Finale 	5:16

Opera Ensemble:
Bassoon – Eliseo Smordoni
Cello – Andrea Bergamelli
Clarinet – Angelo De Angelis 
Flute – Carlo Enrico Macalli
Horn – Alessio Bernardi
Oboe – Luca Vignali
Piano – Linda Di Carlo 

My knowledge of the music of the Parisian composer Louise Farrenc is regrettably little, in fact it is limited to a symphony, a couple of overtures and some piano music, all on two CPO discs, although what I have heard I enjoy, this is music of style and panache, and I have always wondered whether it would be better known if it was by Louis rather than Louise. She was born Jeanne-Louse Dumont in to an artistic family, with both her father and brother being renowned sculptors. She showed early promise as a pianist, so much so that she was sent to Hummel and Moscheles for lessons, leading to her becoming a virtuoso pianist. She showed an aptitude for composing and was eventually to receive lessons from Anton Reicha; although it might have been that as a woman she was unable to attend his classes at the conservatoire and was probably therefore a private student. The piano was her first love and most of her early compositions were for the instrument, with some of her pieces receiving praise from the likes of Schumann.

Farrenc composed a fair number of chamber works, thirteen or so, with all but the Nonet containing the piano. This is true of the three works included on this two CD set, with the first disc being taken up by the Sextet, in C minor, which could be said to be a work for piano and wind quintet. Here the piano is dominant; it is almost like a mini concerto for piano and winds. There is bold writing for the piano whilst the wind writing is well figured and attractive. The writing shows mastery not just of the piano but of the wind section to.

The second disc is take up with two trios with those presented here being in reality the final two of a series of four, although the previous two are for the standard piano trio makeup of violin, cello and piano. Here the balance of the instruments show no difficulty for Farrenc, with both being well crafted pieces. That being said, I find myself being drawn to the Trio for flute, cello & piano in E minor, I find it the more attractive of the two with some wonderful writing for the flute.

In all three works presented here Farrenc shows she is a dedicated follower of the Romantic Movement, her music is bold and on occasion progressive. My only problem with this set is that it seems short measure; surely with only 82 minutes of music between both discs there was time and space to include some ore of her wonderful music.

The performance is excellent from both the pianist, Linda di Carlo, who drives the music on, and the OperaEnsemble. There is a feeling of togetherness and enjoyment throughout their performance, which only enforces my call for more. The booklet documentation is good as is the recorded sound. A recording to savour and enjoy one which at this price should win Farrenc more admirers. ---Stuart Sillitoe, musicweb-international.com

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