Angela Hewitt in Lockdown No. 5: Les Baricades Mistérieuses by F. Couperin

Angela Hewitt, piano
From her own living room during the lockdown in 2020.
Piano: Fazioli F183.

March 28, 2020: To get you through the weekend here’s Couperin’s Les Baricades Mistérieuses. My recording of it for Hyperion Records featured in Terrence Malik's film The Tree of Life which won the Cannes Palme d’Or and was nominated for 3 Oscars. I still haven’t seen it, have you? Excuse no repeat: I had to get it on Twitter at under 2'20".

[cgpriano]

I heard this on Classical WQED-FM 89.3 here in Pittsburgh one day last year and was utterly astonished. I finally bought the Hyperion CD that contains the studio rendition, and the entire disc is magical. Thank goodness for musicians such as Angela Hewitt, who bring joy to the rest of us!

[MICKEYISLOWD]

This piece fills me with longing for an earlier era. Maybe a summer in the Cotswold's of England sat upon a hill looking down on a farming village with hay being stacked and pulled by shire horses. It also tickles me inside just because the melody is so pretty. I never tire of listening to it.

[poink]

Your rendition of this transports me to another world, it’s so beautiful and subtle. The Tree Of Life is a beautiful film, saw it years ago in a less than ideal venue, now I have to see and listen to it again. Thank you Dr. Hewitt 🙏

[mwhite]

I use this piece in lectures for my music history students as an example of a "timeless" piece of music by asking them all to guess the year of composition, using your Hyperion recording of it. Most place it in the early 20th century, others place it as early as 1600. Nearly everyone is stunned into astonished silence by it. It tears me to shreds every time.

[eliseereclus]

EXCELLENT TEMPO ! And for that piece, the tempo is everything.

[lornadupre]

This really is the perfect rendition of this wonderful and ageless piece. So delighted it's now available online.

[keystosuccesspianostudio]

So beautifully played with such exquisite phasing - such a gem of a piece!! Brava!

[sciencesongwriter]

I heard a recording of you playing this on Radio 3 yesterday and I burst into tears with the sheer simple beauty of it. Thank you for helping me keep in touch with my emotions!

[claudionogueira]

Lovely as always. I can close my eyes and be transported to this magical unpretentious world of music that clearly only Angela Hewitt can introduce me to.

[jonathanfarrar]

A simple-sounding piece, but deceptively difficult. And played so nicely by Angela.

[synchro]

Wonderful. Just love this piece. Can't wait to start learning it soon.

[gerrycook]

It's the bass line of this piece that makes it superb.

[javadkhakbaz]

Beautiful rendition of this beautiful and pure piece of music. What a beautiful lockdown gift. Thank you from San Jose, California.

[sheilakamlesh]

Thanks for the beautiful playing and for introducing this to me. I am now slowly teaching myself to play this. 😊

[btownjpl]

I’ve been in love with this piece since forever, and may wear out this track on your recording of it!

[contagieux]

Played so beautifully. I took me a long time to learn this piece and can still only imagine playing it as well as you. Just lovely.

[stevefoley]

And if you want to learn how to phrase it perfectly, this is the one to listen to

[krissykeech]

Oh, Dr Hewitt, that slow climb up and down in mm. 49-51 is exquisite. Xox

[cordeiroue]

I have seen it of course, it's one of my favourites! Such a beautiful movie and this subtle interpretation fits perfectly in the scenes where it is presented... Great beauty all around :) thanks for sharing it

[LordOfElderon]

Heard on FM classic. Stunning frankly. Mixing rough with smooth that other versions haven't quite. Discovered.