Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély (1817-1869) served as titular organist in the Parisian churches of St. Roch, La Madeleine and St. Sulpice. A popular recitalist and prolific composer, he wrote music for reed organs throughout his career. In 1868 he published a set of six salon pieces for harmonium entitled "Nuits Napolitaines," his Opus 183. The first piece in the set was "Soupirs et Regrets," dedicated to Mademoiselle Hélène Labétoure—probably a student. The music features a wistful melody set over a rhythmic accompaniment, and an amusing central section with the melody in the tenor. In his preface to this volume, Lefébure-Wély praised the harmoniums made by Victor Mustel. Michael Hendron performs on his own Mustel harmonium, built in Paris in 1887. Recorded 23 December 2011.
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