Gabriel Fauré - Sonatas for Violin and Piano; Transcriptions (Kerson Leong; Jonathan Fournel)

Information

Composer: Gabriel Fauré

1. Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13: I. Allegro molto
2. Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13: II. Andante
3. Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13: III. Allegro vivo
4. Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13: IV. Allegro quasi presto
5. Shylock Suite, Op. 57: V. Nocturne
6. 3 mélodies, Op. 23: No. 1, Les berceaux (arr. Kerson Leong)
7. Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80: II. Fileuse (arr. Leopold Auer)
8. 2 mélodies, Op. 46: No. 2, Clair de lune (arr. Albert Périlhou)
9. Berceuse, Op. 16
10. 3 mélodies, Op. 7: No. 1, Après un rêve (arr. Kerson Leong)
11. 2 mélodies, Op. 83: No. 2, Soir (arr. Albert Stoessel)
12. Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 108: I. Allegro non troppo
13. Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 108: II. Andante
14. Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 108: III. Allegro non troppo

Kerson Leong, violin

Jonathan Fournel, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Alpha Classics

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Violinist Kerson Leong, winner of the 2010 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, and pianist Jonathan Fournel, winner of the 2021 Queen Elisabeth International Grand Prix, present a collaborative recording devoted to the music of Gabriel Fauré. Long-time musical partners and friends, they explore Fauré’s two violin sonatas—works from opposite ends of his compositional life—alongside a selection of transcriptions including well-known miniatures such as Après un rêve, Clair de lune, and Berceaux. The programme reflects their shared affinity for Fauré’s intimate, lyrical style, which they describe in terms of emotional depth, human expression, and evocative imagery, conveying qualities of solace, night, and shimmering atmosphere.

Kerson Leong (b. 1997) is a Canadian violinist who gained international recognition after winning First Prize at the 2010 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition. Praised for his distinctive sound, combining spontaneity, elegance, and intensity, he has been described as one of the leading violinists of his generation. His critically acclaimed recording of Eugène Ysaÿe’s solo violin sonatas received major awards including the Diapason d’Or Découverte and Choc de Classica. A sought-after soloist, he has worked with major orchestras and was artist-in-residence with the Orchestre Métropolitain under Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He is also an associate artist at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium and performs on a historic Guarneri del Gesù violin on loan from Canimex Inc.

Jonathan Fournel (b. 1993) is a French pianist who gained international prominence after winning the 2021 Queen Elisabeth Competition, where he received the Grand Prix International alongside several audience and jury prizes. He trained at the Saarbrücken Musikhochschule and later at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, studying with prominent pianists including Bruno Rigutto, Brigitte Engerer, and Michel Dalberto, and further refined his artistry at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel under Louis Lortie and Avo Kouyoumdjian. An early competition success at events such as the Viotti and Scottish International Piano Competitions established his career trajectory. He performs widely across Europe and beyond with leading orchestras and chamber musicians, and is noted for his strong interest in contemporary music alongside a broad recital repertoire.