Ravel: Valses Nobles & Sentimentales
Chopin: Two Mazurkas & Waltzes
Bach: French Suite no. 5 in G Major
Beethoven: Six Ecossasien
Schubert: Six Landler
Turina --  Danses Gitanes. Op. 55

Rebecca Penneys, piano
Fleur De Son 57967-71 minutes

The booklet and CD label are splashed with pink. The front also shows Rebecca as an attractive young ballerina. Inside we have a more current photograph of her with pet cat Sheyna. These trappings are hardly needed since Rebeeca Penneys is certainly an artist who can stand on her own, apparently has done so as a dancer, and certainly does so in this music.

Impressive credentials show Penneys as Professor of Piano at the Eastman School of Music, Chair of the Chautauqua Festival Piano Department, and Visiting Artist at St. Petersburg College. 

Her notes are both personal and informative. The Ravel is lovingly presented as a refined sequence of dance movements where languorous tempos and great delicacy supply an interesting interpretive viewpoint. It is one of those performances that breathes the air of femininity and is none the worse for that.

The Mazurkas (Op.17 no. 4 in A minor; Op. 24 no. 2 in C) are achingly beautiful and gently caressed with natural sounding rubato.  The 'Minute Waltz' is technically smooth and manages to sound both brilliant and totally fresh. 

Bach's French Suite continues her rather unique approach hut will not he much appreciated by traditionalists.  Tempos are very f1exible in slower movements for added expression. What works very well with composers of the romantic school may be seen as way too fussy for purists. Faster movements will certainly win over many who appreciate well-executed embellishments and extremely clean playing.

Turina's dances are rhythmically alive and deliciously phrased with full understanding of their Iberian flavor. Aided by a superior recording, Penneys knows how to make each morsel alive and sets it ablaze with an irresistible élan. 

Schubert's dances and some all-too-brief Beethoven Ecossaises complete a program that should not be missed.