Fifty-five years after the release of their first recording, Katia and Marielle Labèque celebrate an extraordinary artistic journey with ‘55’,a landmark 2LP set bringing together new recordings and curated archive treasures spanning more than half a century. First released in 1970 under the artistic guidance of Olivier Messiaen, the Labèque sisters’ debut album marked the beginning of one of the most singular careers in contemporary music.

This album offers an intimate portrait of two artists who, over the decades, have consistently crossed the boundaries between classical music, contemporary music, jazz, minimalism and popular traditions.

“55” places a special focus on female composers whose works hold an important place in the repertoire of Katia and Marielle Labèque. Of these composers, the sisters say: “Their apparent silence was merely a veil that history had imposed upon them. Their stories – extraordinary life journeys and courageous destinies – resonate today with impressive power.”

Tracklisting:

LP1 WILD IS THE WIND

SIDE A

1. Wild is the Wind
2. Spiritual Suite: III. Troubled Water (Margaret Bonds)
3. Ballad of the Spirits (Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou)
4. Valse noire for M.  (David Chalmin)

SIDE B

1. Ten Concert Etudes: IV. (Grażyna Bacewicz)
2. Trois pièces Caractéristiques: I. Allegretto (Grażyna Bacewicz)
3. Helen's Theme (from “Candyman”) (Philip Glass)
4. Star-Cross'd Lovers: Act V: Romeo's Poison (David Chalmin)
5. We Will Meet Again (Bill Evans)
6. West Side Story: Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein)
7. Canción De Amor (Paco de Lucia)

LP2 OF A BRIGHT GARDEN

SIDE C

1. 4 Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 8: I. Allegro moderato (Fanny Mendelssohn)
2. 3 Mélodies, Op. 4: II. Allegretto (Fanny Mendelssohn)
3. Suite bergamasque: III. Clair de lune (Claude Debussy)
4. 3 Morceaux: I. D’un vieux jardin (Lili Boulanger)
5. 12 Valses and Finale, Op. 8: VIII. Allegretto cantabile (Marie Jaëll)
6. Pavana-Capricho, Op. 12 (Isaac Albéniz)
   
   

SIDE D

1. Etude No. 110 (Hélène de Montgeroult)
2. Dolly Suite, Op. 56: 3. Le jardin de Dolly (Gabriel Fauré)
3. Ma mère l’Oye: 5. Le jardin féérique (Maurice Ravel)
4. Goiza Larrunen (Bryce Dessner)
5. Pavane pour une infante défunte, M.19 (Maurice Ravel