the presence of Emmanuel Pahud is luxury casting, somehow making the most familiar sound fresh...the highlight of the disc is surely the late Piano Trio. In its grave Andantino the two string players are superbly reactive...The anguished finale is potently conveyed, too; the impact of Faure's extraordinarily angular writing strengthened by the sheer ardour of the playing.

The somewhat blunt title of this disc belies the beguiling qualities of the music it embraces. This is Fauré the charmer, the weaver of enchanting spells, the delicate craftsman of impeccable miniatures as represented in his piano pieces for four hands and other jewels of chamber music.