Madame Hélène de Montgeroult (1764–1836) lived in a time when significant historical events were shaping France and Europe. Montgeroult's musical oeuvre is distinguished by its interpretive versatility.
The collection of nine sonatas presented here spans from 1795 to 1811. The three sonatas that make up her Opus 1 are three distinct pieces, each with its own mood. The set is strikingly well-versed in the musical style of the time, with the first two sonatas in particular sharing many similarities with the work of Louis Adam and Jean-Frédéric Edelmann. The Sonata in F major, Op.1 No.1, is a cheerful and light-hearted piece in two movements. The Sonata in E flat major, Op.1 No.2, is very similar to the first sonata in terms of overall mood and structure, featuring two fast movements but with less emphasis on virtuosity. The Sonata in F minor, Op.1 No.3, features an uncommon element for its time: syncopation between the two hands throughout the entire piece. The set concludes with a stormy, rhythmically percussive Allegro agitato.
The Op.2 set was engraved in Paris in 1800, with reprints issued in the ensuing years testament to its success at the time. It can be seen as an expansion of Op.1's stylistic language, sharing the same compositional features, but greater in length. The Op.2 No.1 is the shortest of any of Montgeroult’s sonatas, consisting of just two fast movements, the final Presto being a brilliant toccata in two sections. Op.2 No.2 is the first to include a central slower movement, an Andantino quasi Allegretto in G minor. The Sonata in A minor, Op.2 No.3, includes a separate violin accompaniment, not performed in this recording, which follows the ad libitum fashion of the time. With the last three sonatas, Op.5, published by Érard in 1811, Montgeroult rose to mastery. These
sonatas are considerably longer and more complex in their formal structure than their predecessors. The central movements seem deeper than those in Op.2. Op.5 No.1 is possibly the most innovative piece in the collection, with an aesthetical point of view that might have something in common with early Schubert. Op.5 No.1 is also the only one to include a Scherzo. Op.5 No.2 is in F minor, and Op.5 No.3 is in F sharp minor. Overall, the three sonatas in the Opus 5 set expand the form while retaining a Classical-like structure, comparable to later Clementi sonatas or those of other composers of the time, and forecasting the later experimentations of the Romantic generation.
Other information:
- Recorded in June 2021 in Monte Compatri (Rome), Italy
- Booklet in English contains liner notes by the artist and an artist profile
- Simone Pierini plays a fortepiano by J. Haselmann (ca. first decade of 19th century)
- Hélène de Montgeroult was a remarkable female composer and pianist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in Lyon, she spent some years in Paris studying with Hüllmandel, Dussek and later with Clementi, making acquaintances with the most notable Parisian salons of the time, and becoming one of the leading figures of the aristocratic world. Her fame increased just before the beginning of the French Revolution. Being married to the Marquis André Marie Gautier de Montgeroult, and being herself of noble descent, she lost some of her fortune during the Terror period and, despite supporting the Revolution in the first years, some sources indicate that she escaped the guillotine by improvising at the fortepiano some variations on La Marseillaise before the Revolutionary Tribunal. In 1795 the new Conservatoire de Musique was founded, and Montgeroult was appointed as first-class piano teacher, being the first woman to teach there.
- While her work and contributions were largely overlooked during her lifetime, she is now recognized as a significant figure in the history of piano music. One of her most notable achievements is her collection of piano sonatas, which showcases her unique musical voice and virtuosity.
- Montgeroult's piano sonatas embody the spirit of the Classical era while also pushing the boundaries of traditional composition. Her compositions feature intricate and expressive melodies, rich harmonies, and innovative use of form. She displayed a deep understanding of piano technique, incorporating challenging passages and elaborate ornamentation into her works. Each sonata tells a story, evoking a range of emotions from joy and exuberance to introspection and melancholy.
- Played on a Haselmann fortepiano dating from the first decade of the 19th century by Simone Pierini. Born in Rome in 1996, Pierini began studying music at the age of eight. Aged eighteen, he graduated in piano at S. Cecilia Conservatory of Music, Rome, with highest honors, and consequently took part in masterclasses and post-graduate courses. He afterwards grew interest in historically informed piano practice, attending masterclasses led by Alexei Lubimov, Andreas Staier, Tobias Koch, Stefano Fiuzzi. Subsequently, his interest about historical keyboards in general grew further, and he began studying harpsichord and basso continuo with such teachers as Andrea Coen and Giovanni Togni. His debut CD with music by Cherubini was very positively received by the press.
