Violinist Dominique Pifarély and pianist Francois Couturier, defining figures in creative music in France, renew their special connection on Preludes and Songs, their second album on ECM. From 4 to 22 October 2025 the two masters perform this repertoire on an extensive tour in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland, including a concert at the Vilnius Jazz Festival on 16 October.
Pianist François Couturier and violinist Dominique Pifarély, major figures in French improvisation, have played together in many projects over the last 30 years, including their duo, which made its recording debut for ECM with the remarkable Poros in 1997. Preludes and Songs, carries the story forward, with its programme including music by both players as well as pieces by Jacques Brel, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and J.J. Johnson. With sensibilities informed by jazz and contemporary composition, Couturier and Pifarély channel the wide-ranging repertoire into compelling, starkly expressive music. Preludes and Songs was recorded in the exceptional acoustics of Reitstadel Neumarkt, in October 2023, and produced by Manfred Eicher.
(press release – ECM Records)
(c) Jean-Baptiste Millot
Dominique Pifarély violin
Francois Couturier piano
Preludes and songs / ECM 2819 (released 24 January 2025)
Tour program from 4 to 22 October 2025
ESTONIA
Sat 04/10 Tallinn, Town Hall#
Sun 05/10 Pärnu Concert Hall#
Mon 06/10 Türi, Cultural Centre*
Tue 07/10 Jõgeva Cultural Centre*
Wed 08/10 Jõhvi Concert Hall#
# presented by Eesti Kontsert
* presented by Uus Kontsert
LATVIA
Thu 09/10 Riga, VEF Culture Palace
Fri 10/10 Jekabpils, museum of Krustpils
Sat 11/10 Roja, Cultural Centre
Mon 13/10 Jaunpiebalga, Cultural Centre
LITHUANIA
Thu 16/10 Vilnius Jazz Festival
FINLAND kiertuetiedote suomeksi
Sun 19/10 Rajamäki – Rajamäki Soi
Mon 20/10 Helsinki, Hietsu is Happening!
Tue 21/10 Turku, Mestarinkadun konserttisali
Wed 22/10 Seinäjoki, Kalevan naveta / Jazzoikoon!
Tour production: Archipels – cie Dominique Pifarély
Tour booking – tour management: Vapaat äänet
Tour support: AJC, Spedidam
Music of rare beauty, paying scant regard to genre as the duo flit between classical, jazz and new music. This is done with such ease that it is almost impossible to decipher what is improvised, remembered melodies or notated scores. […] This love of melody is heard throughout this splendid album, and perhaps no more so on a magnificent reading of ‘La chanson des vieux amants’ by Jacques Brel and the closing ‘I Loves you Porgy’ in which the duo luxuriates in Gershwin’s composition. With music of such quality from Couturier and Pifarély on ‘Preludes and Songs’, let us hope that the pair do not envisage another extended passage of time before entering the recording studios again.
Nick Lea, Jazz Views