FLAC tracks | Classical | 402:34 | 1,5 GbThe early recordings of a keyboard lioness, long unavailable and new to CD. Not generally given to extravagant effusions, William Glock (Controller of Radio 3 and the BBC Proms in the 1970s) had no doubt: ‘There is no one who plays the piano better in the world than she does. There is no one with a more fantastic command of the piano… not over felt, not under-felt, nothing rushed just to show off and yet the greatest playing I’ve heard for years.’He was referring to the French pianist Cécile Ousset, whose career had belatedly sparked to life and international recognition with appearances across the UK and US and a new contract with EMI Records.

Yet prior to this Oussethad made several recordings since her success in the late 1950s at several major European competitions.

She accumulated a considerable catalogue on Eterna, the East German label, but then Oussetsigned to make recordings with Sofrason, the Société Françaisedu Son.

These were licensed for wider release by the French arm of Decca, but Sofrasonwent out of business in 1981 and the recordings have never been reissued –until now.

This new Eloquence set includes an appreciation of Ousset’sart by the French pianophile Jean-Charles Hoffélé.

These ‘French Decca’ recordings all date from 1973-5, and they include much solo repertoire that Oussetnever recorded again, though they share similar qualities with the much-acclaimed concerto recordings that she made in the 1980s: an unsentimental palette of rubato and tone-colour, a fearless and brilliant command of articulation, and a uniquely French mastery of jeuperlé.

Tracklist:001. 12 Etudes, L.136 – 7. Pour les degrés chromatiques002. 12 Etudes, L.136 – 11. Pour les arpèges composés003. 12 Etudes, L.136 – 3. Pour les quartes004. 12 Etudes, L.136 – 5. Pour les octaves005. 3 Gymnopédies – No.1 Lent et douloureux006. 3 Gymnopédies – No.2 Lent et triste007. 3 Gymnopédies – No.3 Lent et grave008. Étude en forme de valse, Op.52009. Toccata, Étude d’après le 5ème concerto, Op.111010. 10 Pièces pittoresques – 6. Idylle011. 10 Pièces pittoresques – 10. Scherzo-valse012. Bourrée fantasque013. Morceaux de Fantasie, Op.3 – No.1 Elégie014. Morceaux de Fantasie, Op.3 – No.2 Prélude in C sharp minor015. Morceaux de Fantasie, Op.3 – No.3 Mélodie016. Morceaux de Fantasie, Op.3 – No.4 Polichinelle017. Morceaux de Fantasie, Op.3 – No.5 Sérénade018. Morceaux de Salon, Op.10 – 5. Humoreske019. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 1. Marche020. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 2. Gavotte021. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 3. Rigaudon022. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 4. Mazurka023. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 5. Capriccio024. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 6. Légende025. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 7. Prélude026. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 8. Allemande027. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 9. Scherzo humoristique028. 10 Pieces for Piano, Op.12 – 10. Scherzo029. Carnaval, Op.9 – Préambule030. Carnaval, Op.9 – Pierrot031. Carnaval, Op.9 – Arlequin032. Carnaval, Op.9 – Valse noble033. Carnaval, Op.9 – Eusebius034. Carnaval, Op.9 – Florestan035. Carnaval, Op.9 – Coquette036. Carnaval, Op.9 – Réplique037. Carnaval, Op.9 – Papillons038. Carnaval, Op.9 – A.S.C.H. – S.C.H.A. (Lettres dansantes)039. Carnaval, Op.9 – Chiarina040. Carnaval, Op.9 – Chopin041. Carnaval, Op.9 – Estrella042. Carnaval, Op.9 – Reconnaissance043. Carnaval, Op.9 – Pantalon et Colombine044. Carnaval, Op.9 – Valse allemande045. Carnaval, Op.9 – Paganini046. Carnaval, Op.9 – Aveu047. Carnaval, Op.9 – Promenade048. Carnaval, Op.9 – Pause049. Carnaval, Op.9 – Marche des “Davidsbünler” contre les Philistins050. Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op.35 – Book 1051. Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op.35 – Book 2052. 9 Variations On A March By Dressler, WoO 63053. 6 Variations on a Swiss Song in F major WoO 64054. 9 Variations on ‘Quant’e piu bello’, WoO 69055. 24 Variations on Righini’s Arietta “Venni amore”, WoO 65056. 6 Piano Variations in G on “Nel cor più non mi sento”, WoO 70057. 13 Variations on ‘Es war einmal ein alter Mann’, WoO 66058. 12 Variations on ‘Menuet a la Vigano’, WoO 68059. 8 Variations on ‘Une fièvre brûlante’, WoO 72060. 6 Variations in G Major, WoO 77061. 6 Piano Variations in F, Op.34062. 7 Variations on “God save the King”, WoO 78063. 7 Variations on ‘Kind, willst du ruhig schlafen’, WoO 75064. 5 Piano Variations in D on “Rule Britannia”, WoO 79065. 8 Variations on ‘Tändeln und Scherzen’, WoO 76066. 6 Variations on an Original Theme (The Turkish March from The Ruins of Athens) in D Major, Op.76067. 32 Piano Variations In C Minor On An Original Theme, WoO 80068. 12 Variations on the Russian Dance from ‘Das Waldmädchen’, WoO 71069. 10 Variations on “La stessa, la stessissima”, WoO 73070. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Introduzione col Basso del Tema- Allegretto vivace071. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Tema072. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 1073. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 2074. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 3075. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 4076. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 5077. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 6078. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 7 – Canone all’ottava079. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 8080. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 9081. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 10082. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 11083. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 12084. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 13085. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 14086. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Variation 15 – Largo087. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Coda088. 15 Piano Variations and Fugue in E flat, Op.35 -“Eroica Variations” – Finale- Alla Fuga – Allegro con brio – Andante con moto089. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Tema (Vivace)090. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 1 (Alla marcia maestoso)091. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 2 (Poco allegro)092. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 3 (L’istesso tempo)093. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 4 (Un poco più vivace)094. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 5 (Allegro vivace)095. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 6 (Allegro ma non troppo e serioso)096. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 7 (Un poco più allegro)097. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 8 (Poco vivace)098. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 9 (Allegro pesante e risoluto)099. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 10 (Presto)100. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 11 (Allegretto)101. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 12 (Un poco più moto)102. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 13 (Vivace)103. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 14 (Grave e maestoso)104. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 15 (Presto scherzando)105. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 16 (Allegro)106. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 17107. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 18 (Poco moderato)108. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 19 (Presto)109. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 20 (Andante)110. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 21 (Allegro con brio – Meno allegro – Tempo I)111. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 22 (Allegro molto)- Alla “Notte e giorno faticar” di Mozart112. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 23 (Allegro assai)113. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 24 Fughetta (Andante)114. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 25 (Allegro)115. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 26116. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 27 (Vivace)117. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 28 (Allegro)118. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 29 (Adagio ma non troppo)119. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 30 (Andante, sempre cantabile)120. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 31 (Largo, molto espressivo)121. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 32 Fuga (Allegro – Poco adagio)122. 33 Piano Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli – Variation 33 (Tempo di minuetto moderato, ma non tirarsi dietro)