Marguerite Long (1874–1966)

Rating Key: * A dud: not recommended; ** Fair: could be worth a listen; *** A good, solid interpretation: recommended; **** A must-listen: highly recommended; ***** Sublime: A desert-island recording. In addition, for those who wish to focus their listening at a glance, I have highlighted in green what I believe are the “essential” recordings of the pianist (those I think all classical piano lovers should listen to), while those I place in more of an “honorable mention” category are in yellow.1 Primary sources for Marguerite Long discography: (1) liner notes for CD releases by APR and Cascavelle; (2) appendices of the book Marguerite Long: A Life in French Music by Cecilia Dunoyer.

ComposerWork and Youtube Link If AvailableOther Performers If ApplicableSource CD Label (Original Record Label If Different)Source CD Title and Link to Amazon or Other Purchase PageRecording Date (Place) Rating
BeethovenPiano Concerto #3 in c, Op. 37:Felix Weingartner: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireCascavelle (Columbia)L’art de Marguerite Long2While including a few of Marguerite Long’s Chopin and Fauré recordings that had never before been released on CD, APR also omitted a few concerto and ensemble performances from its 2022 two-volume release of her recordings. These include her Beethoven and Mozart concertos, the late Chopin second piano concerto with Cluytens, the Halffter Rapsodie portugaise, and her Mozart violin sonatas with Jacques Thibaud. Most of these recordings were released on this comprehensive four-disc set on the small French label Cascavelle back in 2003 (with the exception of the Chopin F minor concerto with Cluytens, which appears to have only been issued by EMI on CD, and the Mozart violin sonatas, only one of which was long ago available on disc on the historical English label Biddulph) and can be difficult or pricey to obtain. Luckily, they also appear to be mostly available on YouTube for now.June 9–10, 1939 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
I. Allegro con brio
II. Largo
III. Rondo: Allegro – Presto
BeethovenPiano Concerto #5 in E-flat (“Emperor”), Op. 73:Charles Munch: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireCascavelle (Columbia)L’art de Marguerite LongJune 11 & 18, 1945 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
I. Allegro
II. Adagio un poco mosso
III. Rondo: Allegro
ChopinBarcarolle in F-sharp,
Op. 60
APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelMarch 6, 1933 (Paris)***
ChopinBerceuse in D-flat, Op. 57APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJanuary 12, 1937 (Paris)**
ChopinFantasie-Impromptu in
f-sharp, Op. 66
APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJanuary 12, 1937 (Paris)***
ChopinFantasy in f, Op. 49APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelMay 11, 1929 (Studio Albert, Paris)**
ChopinMazurka in f-sharp,
Op. 59/3
APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelNovember 6, 1929 (Studio Albert, Paris)**
ChopinPiano Concerto #2 in f, Op. 21:Philippe Gaubert: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJune 28–29, 1929 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
I. Maestoso
II. Larghetto
III. Allegro vivace
ChopinPiano Concerto #2 in f, Op. 21André Cluytens: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireEMI (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Chopin, Faure, Ravel, Milhaud, Mozart, BeethovenJanuary 19–20, 1953 (Théâtre de Champs-Elysées, Paris)****
ChopinScherzo #2 in b-flat,
Op. 31
APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJuly 23, 1936 & May 10, 1937 (Paris)***
ChopinWaltz in A-flat, Op. 64/3APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJune 3, 1929 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
ChopinWaltz in D-flat, Op. 70/3APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelNovember 12, 1929 (Studio Albert, Paris)**
DebussyArabesque #1 in EAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJuly 10, 1930 (Studio Albert, Paris)****
DebussyArabesque #2 in GAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJuly 10, 1930 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
DebussyJardins sous la pluieAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelNovember 12, 1929 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
DebussyLa plus que lenteAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelNovember 6, 1929 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
D’indySymphony on a French Mountain Air, Op. 25:Paul Paray: Orchestre de l’Association Artistique des Concerts ColonneAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMay 24–25, 1934 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
I. Assez lent
II. Assez modéré, mais sans lenteur
III. Animé
FauréBallade for Piano and Orchestra in F-sharp,
Op. 19
Philippe Gaubert: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyApril 1, 1930 (Studio Albert, Paris)*****
FauréBallade for Piano and Orchestra in F-sharp,
Op. 19
André Cluytens: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyOctober 30, 1950 (Théâtre de Champs-Elysées, Paris)***
FauréBarcarolle #2 in G, Op. 41APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMarch 15, 1957 (Maison de la Mutualité, Paris)*****
FauréBarcarolle #6 in E-flat, Op. 70APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMay 10, 1937 (Paris)****
FauréBarcarolle #6 in E-flat, Op. 70APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMarch 15, 1957 (Maison de la Mutualité, Paris)***
FauréImpromptu #2 in f, Op. 31APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMarch 6, 1933 (Paris)*****
FauréImpromptu #2 in f, Op. 31APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMarch 15, 1957 (Maison de la Mutualité, Paris)***
FauréImpromptu #5 in f-sharp, Op. 102APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMarch 6, 1933 (Paris)*****
FauréNocturne #4 in E-flat,
Op. 36
APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMay 10, 1937 (Paris)*****
FauréNocturne #6 in D-flat,
Op. 63
APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyJuly 13, 1933 (Paris)*****
FauréPiano Quartet #1 in c,
Op. 15:
Trio PasquierAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyFebruary 13, 1956 (Maison de la Mutualité, Paris)***
I. Allegro molto moderato
II. Scherzo
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro molto
FauréPiano Quartet #2 in g,
Op. 45:
Jacques Thibaud, violin; Maurice Vieux, viola; Pierre Fournier, celloAPR (HMV3The English equivalent of “Voix de son maître” (“His Master’s Voice”), as it is known in France.)Marguerite Long: Volume 1—Fauré & D’IndyMay 10, 1940 (Studio Albert, Paris)*****
I. Allegro molto moderato
II. Allegro molto
III. Adagio non troppo
IV. Allegro molto
HalffterRapsodie Portugaise for Piano & OrchestraCharles Munch: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireCascavelle (Columbia)L’art de Marguerite LongOctober 27, 1941 & March 31, 1942 (Salle du Conservatoire, Paris)*
MilhaudAlfama (No. 2 of L’Automne, Op. 15)APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelMay 10, 1935 (Paris)***
MilhaudPaysandu (No. 12 of Saudades do Brazil,
Op. 67)
APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelMay 10, 1935 (Paris)***
MilhaudPiano Concerto #1,
Op. 127:
Darius Milhaud: Orchestre National de FranceAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelApril 5, 1935 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
I. Très vif
II. Mouvement de barcarolle
III. Final
MozartPiano Concerto #23 in A, K. 488Phillipe Gaubert: [Unnamed orchestra]Cascavelle (HMV)L’art de Marguerite LongDecember 13, 1935 (Studio Albert, Paris)**
MozartViolin Sonata in B-flat,
K. 378
Jacques ThibaudUnreleased (Columbia)4This ensemble recording with Thibaud appears to have never been released on CD (the only version I found was on vinyl and released in Japan), so I have marked it as unreleased.UnreleasedJuly 1943 (Studio Albert, Paris)**
Mozart Violin Sonata in A, K. 526Jacques ThibaudBiddulph (HMV)Thibaud and Long Play MozartJuly 1943 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
RavelPiano Concerto in G:Pedro de Freitas-Branco:5Some sources and releases have incorrectly cited the conductor of this performance as the composer himself, Maurice Ravel.[Unnamed orchestra]APR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelApril 14, 1932 (Studio Albert, Paris)***
I. Allegramente
II. Adagio assai
III. Presto
Ravel Piano Concerto in G:Georges Tzipine: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireAPR (Columbia)Marguerite Long: Volume 2—Chopin, Debussy, Milhaud & RavelJune 12, 1952 (Théâtre de Champs-Elysées, Paris)**
I. Allegramente
II. Adagio assai
III. Presto