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ADRIEN LA MARCA
You’ve just finished this recording of English music. What prompted you
to choose this programme, and what are your first impressions coming
straight out of the studio?
I’ve had the opportunity to take part in recordings before, but this is really my first
professional disc. Thanks to the high degree of freedom I was given by La Dolce
Volta, I was able to choose a very personal repertory. I was keen to present thiswide
range of English music, which is very close to my heart, from Dowland to the late
twentieth century. The first words that come to mind to describe the programme
are passion and profundity, even if there are also more light-hearted pieces.
The recording demanded a lot of energy fromme, because, psychologically, I placed
myself in a concert situation. For each take, I imagined that the magnificent hall
of the Liège Philharmonie, where we were lucky enough to be recording, was full
of people. We always did very long takes in order to preserve the continuity, the
momentumof the discourse. And what a joy it was for me to be able to collaborate
with Thomas Hoppe, an incomparable musician and chamber partner! We first
worked together around two years ago, quite by chance, when I was replacing a
colleague. Everything clicked between us right away; he’s a genuinely inspirational
partner, wonderfully straightforward and sympathetic, not to speak of his
immense musical culture.
Finally, I’d also like to underline what an invaluable presence our piano technician
Régis Allaerts was, as was the producer Jean-Marc Laisné, whose calm and
professionalism truly helped me to give of my very best for this disc.