Lovely stuff from de Castillon

[Alan Howe]

A lovely new CD of piano quintets by Alexis de Castillon (1838-1873) is due out soon on the Ligia label. Details and audio excerpts here...

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Alexis-de-Castillon-Klavierquartett-op-7/hnum/3530905

[Mark Thomas]

This is really good news. de Castillon was a  fine composer and another example of someone whose promise was cut short by a relatively early death. I don't know if the CD with his Piano Concerto and Esquisses Symphoniques is still available, but it's well worth tracking down. There are certainly a couple of performances of the Piano Quartet in circulation and also a CD of piano music.

Everything is beautifully crafted, and the bigger pieces have a mix of robustness and sensitivity which is very appealing. I suppose he reminds me most of Saint-Saëns (that's intended as a compliment), but there's also a warmth about his music which comes from his ability to convey spontaneity, something which is often lacking in S-S.

My order is already in!