Socrate + Melodies [LTMCD 2459]

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Erik Satie \ Socrate + Melodies [LTMCD 2459]

This acclaimed recording of Erik Satie's symphonic drama Socrate was originally released by Factory Classical in 1990. Sopranos Susan Bickley, Eileen Hulse and Patricia Rosario perform with pianist Robin Bowman and conductor Richard Bernas.

Completed in the spring of 1918, Socrate is a typically eccentric piece from French composer Erik Satie. Written in three movements for voice (four sopranos) and small orchestra (or piano), the text was extracted from three Platonic dialogues and depicts the last days of the Greek philosopher Socrates, condemned to death for corrupting the young men of Athens. The subtitle 'symphonic drama' belies the understatement and economy of Socrate, which Satie aimed to make "white and pure like antiquity."

Socrate is augmented here by five short song cycles written by Satie between 1886 and 1923: Trois Melodies (1886), Trois Autres Melodies, Trois Melodies (1916) and Quatres Petite Melodies (1920), together with the absurdist piece Ludions ('bottle imps') from 1923, with lyrics by poet Léon-Paul Fargue.

The 61 minute recording was made at All Saints Church, Petersham. The LTM edition features revised artwork and liner notes, including full texts for Socrate and all 18 Melodies in both French and English.

Tracklist:

1. Portrait of Socrate
2. Bords d'Illissus
3. Mort de Socrate
4. Les Anges
5. Elégie
6. Sylvie
7. Le Statue de Bronze
8. Daphénéo
9. Le Chapelier
10. Chanson
11. Chanson Médiévale
12. Les Fleurs
13. Elégie
14. Danseuse
15. Chanson
16. Adieu
17. Ludions: Air du Rat
18. Ludions: Spleen
19. Ludions: Le Grenouille Américaine
20. Ludions: Air du Poete
21. Ludions: Chanson du Chat

Available on CD and digital (MP3 or FLAC). To order CD please select correct shipping option (UK, EU or Rest of World) and click on Add To Cart button below cover image. Digital copies are delivered to customers via link sent by email.

Reviews:

"The most widely acclaimed of Factory Classical's historic releases" (The Quietus, 06/2017)

"Musically Socrate is respectfully reticent, providing an unruffled static sound decor, but its effect is unexpectedly impressive, and the stark simplicity of the telling of Socrates' death is very moving. It is admirably performed by the singers and instrumentalists, and the recording is bright and clear. In the songs there is a simple melodic charm, and I salute Eileen Hulse's rapt tone in Les Anges and Chanson, and Patricia Rosario's ringing soprano in Le Chapelier" (The Gramophone, 10/1991)

"Satie's account of the last days of Socrates, written for voices and orchestra, and typically the piece finds a meta-drama through aloofness and the removal of operatic stylisation" (The Wire, 12/2006)

"Beautiful, moving and compassionate" (Yahoo, 10/2006)

"A revelation - a piece for voices and orchestra that somehow manages to sidestep all bombast and hysteria and emerge as a pulsating human document" (Plan B, 02/2007)