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The Music Room => Great Recordings and Reviews => Topic started by: Frankler on August 15, 2008, 07:36:02 AM

Title: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Frankler on August 15, 2008, 07:36:02 AM
I've been listening to Debussy's Preludes preformed by K. Zimerman on DG. I bought this near the time it had come out and was deeply impressed. It seems as though pieces such as 'no.8 vol 1' and 'no. 10 vol. 1' stand out more because they are actually developed and finished themes, while other pieces simply seem to be brief impressionist colors, with no real development or since of start or close, of course it is simply a listener's oppinion; I very much do recommend the recording to anyone though.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TFE6RZJ3L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mark on August 15, 2008, 07:53:39 AM
Welcome, friend. :)

Thanks for the recommendation.

(And just a tip for you: don't be surprised if a Moderator moves this thread into the correct part of the forum. ;))
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: DavidRoss on August 15, 2008, 08:37:04 AM
Quote from: Mark on August 15, 2008, 07:53:39 AM
(And just a tip for you: don't be surprised if a Moderator moves this thread into the correct part of the forum. ;))
And don't be surprised if they don't--Wagner threads get started in this section all the time and rarely get moved to the Opera & Vocal board.  This location seems just right for discussing Debussy's Preludes to me, unless you'd prefer the discussion on the Composer's board.  I love them.  After Beethoven's Sonatas and Bach's keyboard music, they are my favorite solo piano works.  I love the colors and the atmosphere--or "impressions"--they convey.  I don't know the Zimerman recording--have Livia Rev, Paul Jacobs, and Alain Planès--the latter my fave, due to his thoughtful phrasing, the lucious sound of the period Bechstein he uses, and the superb harmonia mundi recording quality.

Welcome to the forum!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: orbital on August 16, 2008, 05:56:04 AM
Quote from: Frankler on August 15, 2008, 07:36:02 AM
It seems as though pieces such as 'no.8 vol 1' and 'no. 10 vol. 1' stand out more because they are actually developed and finished themes, while other pieces simply seem to be brief impressionist colors, with no real development or since of start or close...
Hence, they are called 'preludes'. Their improvisatory nature does not warrant any strict musical form. Although different composes have different concepts about the style, preludes, in general, are free flowing musical miniatures.

It's hard for me to think of Zimmerman in Debussy. But I may be in for a pleasant surprise. Thanks for the recommendation :)
The most notable Debbus-ists I have come across are Gieseking and Michelangeli. You may want to investigate their recordings as well.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: ezodisy on August 18, 2008, 11:25:45 AM
Michelangeli, this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grieg-Piano-Concerto-Debussy-Pr%C3%A9ludes/dp/B00004WJMG/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1219087501&sr=1-18

or the whole BBC box

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michelangeli-Portrait-Of-A-Legend/dp/B000026D3O/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1219087476&sr=1-11
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 18, 2008, 11:52:55 AM
Zimerman is very good, but his recording seems to infuse a bit of Liszt into Debussy.  That may or may not be to everyone's taste.

The best of the best are Gieseking, Michelangeli, and (for me at least) Daniel Ericourt.  If up to date sound is a must, then either Jean Efflam Bavouzet or Michel Beroff (on Denon) seem the way to go, though some may prefer Steven Osborne.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: mjwal on August 19, 2008, 08:09:06 AM
Apart from Casadesus, my historical reference, and Michelangeli, especially Bk.1, I find Richter riveting and commanding in 10 of Bk.1 and all of Bk.2 (BBC Legends live - there are other recordings). I also enjoy Dino Ciani in these works, though I only have the selection on DG Classikon.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: MishaK on August 22, 2008, 05:18:28 PM
Michelangeli and Gieseking are rightfully standard references, though I must say Gieseking somehow never grew on me and I vastly prefer Michelangeli's studio DG recordings to the live BBC version of Livre I, the sound of which I find suboptimal. Michelangeli is in Debussy an unreached model of sonority control, even if others may outshine him in spontaneity. I recently discovered Richter's live Preludes which are certainly very bold and unique. Absolutely worth hearing as a completely different conception compared to ABM or Gieseking! I have to say I find Paul Jacobs rather very plain and not memorable. One other pianist one should absolutely hear in Debussy is Moravec (who was a student of ABM). Unfortunately, there is no complete set of the Preludes of his, just bits and pieces strewn across various discs. Another very worthy contender is Jean-Yves Thibaudet, whose 2CD set includes a whole bunch of other Debussy goodies. I had the pleasure of hearing Thibaudet play Livre II live last season. He has a wonderful touch and spontaneity in these works and masterful pedaling.

As to development in these works, development isn't the point. Debussy was averse to traditional types of development. That doesn't mean there is no structure in the Preludes. All of them are little self-contained gems.

Thanks for the tip re: Alain Planes. I shall look into that. I heard him play an assortment of French music a number of years ago.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Bogey on August 22, 2008, 05:48:31 PM
Quote from: Todd on August 18, 2008, 11:52:55 AM


The best of the best are Gieseking,

Which recordings do you have here of Gieseking, Todd?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 22, 2008, 06:10:28 PM
Quote from: Bogey on August 22, 2008, 05:48:31 PMWhich recordings do you have here of Gieseking, Todd?



The '36/'38/'39 set in the VAI incarnation, and the '53/'54 EMI set.  I'm hoping EMI reissues the '51 set sometime.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Bogey on August 23, 2008, 06:35:23 AM
Quote from: Todd on August 22, 2008, 06:10:28 PM


The '36/'38/'39 set in the VAI incarnation,

Complete?  Still available?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 23, 2008, 04:52:22 PM
Quote from: Bogey on August 23, 2008, 06:35:23 AMComplete?  Still available?



(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21DREVNHNHL._SL500_AA130_.jpg)


Yes and yes.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Bogey on August 23, 2008, 06:40:15 PM
Quote from: Todd on August 23, 2008, 04:52:22 PM


(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21DREVNHNHL._SL500_AA130_.jpg)


Yes and yes.

I have his Book I on the Pearl label, I believe from '38.....how are these transfers of the VAI, Todd?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 24, 2008, 07:35:20 AM
Quote from: Bogey on August 23, 2008, 06:40:15 PMI have his Book I on the Pearl label, I believe from '38.....how are these transfers of the VAI, Todd?



Possibly a bit too much noise reduction, but otherwise excellent.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: DavidRoss on August 26, 2008, 06:32:47 AM
Michelangeli's rather heavy-handed for my tastes in this, and I haven't heard Gieseking--the other standard answer--in too long to comment.  One other not mentioned yet whom I like is Pascal Roge, fine if you like a lighter touch.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: springrite on August 26, 2008, 06:36:04 AM
So far my favorite Debussy player is Paul Jacobs. But some of that is on LP, which I can no longer play for lack of a player.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: ezodisy on September 05, 2008, 11:21:41 AM
The one I would not recommend buying is by Koroliov, on Tacet. It got some decent-to-very-good reviews, but for me it didn't bring any new insights to the music: he's careful with it, trying to make it colourful--unsuccessfully in my opinion--and is very much wooden/leaden in terms of rhythm, sort of plodding along, never taking flight, or conversely never really exploring depths in terms of stasis or isolated sounds. Dull, in a word. If anyone finds personality in his recording, let me know.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Josquin des Prez on September 06, 2008, 05:48:44 AM
Quote from: Todd on August 18, 2008, 11:52:55 AM
The best of the best are Gieseking

Resounding no. Gieseking is what kept me away from Debussy for the longest time.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on September 06, 2008, 07:02:56 AM
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on September 06, 2008, 05:48:44 AMResounding no. Gieseking is what kept me away from Debussy for the longest time.


You're one of the few.  So a resounding yes.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: ezodisy on September 06, 2008, 09:26:05 AM
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on September 06, 2008, 05:48:44 AM
Gieseking is what kept me away from Debussy for the longest time.


You haven't said who brought to you to him, then. Was it Zimerman?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Josquin des Prez on September 06, 2008, 10:46:07 AM
Quote from: ezodisy on September 06, 2008, 09:26:05 AM
You haven't said who brought to you to him, then. Was it Zimerman?

Zimerman and Laurent Aimard. Mind you, i wouldn't haphazard to argue those are the best interpreters of this music, i don't have that kind of familiarity with Debussy as of yet, but they surely did the trick where Gieseking didn't.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Tyson on September 06, 2008, 06:36:42 PM
Giesking never moved me, nor did Bolet, Zimerman, Uchida, Michelangeli.  It was only after I heard Paul Jacobs that I really connected with this music.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: springrite on September 06, 2008, 07:10:31 PM
Quote from: Tyson on September 06, 2008, 06:36:42 PM
Giesking never moved me, nor did Bolet, Zimerman, Uchida, Michelangeli.  It was only after I heard Paul Jacobs that I really connected with this music.

Well I did enjoy the Zimerman and Michelangeli, I also have Paul Jacobs to thank for my love of Debussy. His Debussy is something special indeed.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Josquin des Prez on September 06, 2008, 08:04:40 PM
Quote from: Tyson on September 06, 2008, 06:36:42 PM
It was only after I heard Paul Jacobs that I really connected with this music.

Interesting. I have his Schoenberg recording and it is absolutely amazing, desert island level even though the music itself is not. I had his Debussy on my amazon wish list for a while but for a time my interests were being diverted else where so i never made the purchase. I think i'll use this as an excuse to finalize my order.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Holden on September 06, 2008, 11:29:01 PM
The first pianist to turn me on to Debussy was Richter and his BBC recordings of the Preludes. While Michelangeli also sounded good he didn't convince like Richter did. My latest acquisition is the Egorov box set and his Preludes, spread over two CDs, also sound very good to me and very close to Richter for top choice.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: vandermolen on September 07, 2008, 12:02:26 AM
Quote from: Holden on September 06, 2008, 11:29:01 PM
The first pianist to turn me on to Debussy was Richter and his BBC recordings of the Preludes. While Michelangeli also sounded good he didn't convince like Richter did. My latest acquisition is the Egorov box set and his Preludes, spread over two CDs, also sound very good to me and very close to Richter for top choice.

The piano teacher where I work says that Gieseking (sp?) is the best.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on September 07, 2008, 08:17:17 AM
Quote from: Holden on September 06, 2008, 11:29:01 PM
The first pianist to turn me on to Debussy was Richter and his BBC recordings of the Preludes. While Michelangeli also sounded good he didn't convince like Richter did. My latest acquisition is the Egorov box set and his Preludes, spread over two CDs, also sound very good to me and very close to Richter for top choice.

Yes, Egorov is simply outstanding. Can't rate him highly enough. 

I'd also second the Thibaudet rec and add Moravec's selections. Plus Richter.


Title: !!
Post by: George on September 07, 2008, 08:31:25 AM
Quote from: Bogey on August 23, 2008, 06:40:15 PM
I have his Book I on the Pearl label, I believe from '38.....how are these transfers of the VAI, Todd?

I've compared them to the Pearl transfers and I must say the Pearl boasts a much better tone. Surprise! ;D The VAI still is decent, though, as you can hear the surface noise throughout, but the higher frequencies are clearly rolled off. Some of this can be remedied by turning up the treble.

Did Pearl ever release Book 2 of Gieseking's early preludes? 

As for Zimerman, I like his set, even if it is way overpriced. Richter on BBC is absolutely fabulous!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: ezodisy on September 07, 2008, 09:26:17 AM
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on September 06, 2008, 10:46:07 AM
Zimerman and Laurent Aimard. Mind you, i wouldn't haphazard to argue those are the best interpreters of this music, i don't have that kind of familiarity with Debussy as of yet, but they surely did the trick where Gieseking didn't.

Well perhaps you'll come to appreciate Gieseking's unique way with the music in due course. No one expects him to be the only introduction to it.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: E d o on September 11, 2008, 10:58:08 AM
I seem to reach for my Kocsis box before Zimerman, Michelangeli or Gieseking with Debussy.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on September 11, 2008, 11:45:59 AM
I recently was able to get my hands on Eric Heidsieck's recording of the first book of the Preludes - I also ordered the second, but it's apparently no longer available - and after several listens I must say that it is extremely fine.  Heidsieck plays around with tempi a lot, though generally more discreetly than in his Beethoven, and his tone is a bit metallic in the loudest passages, but he really delivers a wonderfully nuanced set.  It's right up there with Beroff (Denon) and Bavouzet as far as modern sets go, though the sound isn't as good as for those two.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Philoctetes on September 12, 2008, 02:54:12 PM
http://www.pianosociety.com/cms/index.php?section=397

I enjoy the above's take, and one cannot beat the price. Though she didn't do them all. I think it is well worth the listen.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Peregrine on May 11, 2009, 09:19:57 AM
Anyone heard Freire's latest disc with Book 1 of the Preludes and Children's corner?:

(http://www.mdt.co.uk/public/pictures/products/standard/4781111.jpg)

And whilst we're on the subject, has anyone heard Bavouzet playing Debussy?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on May 11, 2009, 11:00:31 AM
Quote from: Peregrine on May 11, 2009, 09:19:57 AMAnyone heard Freire's latest disc with Book 1 of the Preludes and Children's corner?


Yes, and it's quite good. (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,9.msg281828.html#msg281828)

To your second question, Bavouzet's set is even better. 
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Peregrine on May 11, 2009, 11:23:15 AM
Quote from: Todd on May 11, 2009, 11:00:31 AM

Yes, and it's quite good. (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,9.msg281828.html#msg281828)

To your second question, Bavouzet's set is even better. 

Thanks, Todd, nice to read some comments. I've been looking at buying some Bavouzet for a while now, both his complete Ravel set and the Debussy discs, so perhaps I should just go for it and grab that first Debussy disc with the Preludes.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on May 11, 2009, 11:24:07 AM
Quote from: Peregrine on May 11, 2009, 11:23:15 AMso perhaps I should just go for it and grab that first Debussy disc with the Preludes.


It's worth the money.  (His Ravel is even better, though.)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on May 11, 2009, 04:41:40 PM
Michelangeli is great in this repertoire. I have really come to appreciate his work more and more over the years.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: DavidRoss on May 11, 2009, 04:57:54 PM
Alain Planès on harmonia mundi is still my fave in this, despite the fine recent recordings released by Steven Osborne on hyperion and Pascal Rogé on Onyx.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: SonicMan46 on May 11, 2009, 05:18:42 PM
Quote from: Todd on May 11, 2009, 11:24:07 AM

It's worth the money.  (His Ravel is even better, though.)

Hi Todd - I have Jean-Efflam Bavouzet in Ravel's piano music - love it!  Also own Louis Lortie in the same repertoire, although I've not made any 'back to back' comparisons - Bovouzet seems to be at the top of the heap in these performances.  Now in reviewing Amazon, I now see that Angela Hewitt has also recorded these works w/ great reviews on this site - can't imagine that she 'comes close' to the previous mentioned pianists - so just out of curiosity, have you heard Hewitt's Ravel recordings?

Now concerning Bavouzet and Debussy, I've purchased the first Chandos disc and LOVE it!  But, hey these CDs are not cheap - would love to see these packaged in a bargain set?  But again curious what your Debussy preferences may be in his 'solo' piano works?

Thanks for any comments - Dave  :)

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61NDZ25ZAYL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)  (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41T4SVX0G7L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on May 11, 2009, 07:23:56 PM
Quote from: SonicMan on May 11, 2009, 05:18:42 PMso just out of curiosity, have you heard Hewitt's Ravel recordings?


Yes, and she's actually quite good.  I'm not a big Hewitt fan, but her clean, lean, rhythmically crisp playing pays dividends in a few works.  It's not tip-top drawer, but I can think of worse Ravel recordings.  (Keep in mind Abbey Simon's stupefyingly great set if you're looking for some great Ravel.)



Quote from: SonicMan on May 11, 2009, 05:18:42 PMNow concerning Bavouzet and Debussy...again curious what your Debussy preferences may be in his 'solo' piano works?


Bavouzet's set won't be issued as a budget box for years, nor should it.  The Preludes disc is actually the weakest disc in the set, with the most recent disc the best.

Favorites for all the major Debussy works is too much work right now.  Suffice it to say that the names I've mentioned thus far (Gieseking, Michelangeli, Ericourt, Beroff (on Denon), Bavouzet, and Heidsieck) are all superb.  Richter ain't too shabby either.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Peregrine on May 11, 2009, 10:37:56 PM
Quote from: Todd on May 11, 2009, 07:23:56 PM
Favorites for all the major Debussy works is too much work right now.  Suffice it to say that the names I've mentioned thus far (Gieseking, Michelangeli, Ericourt, Beroff (on Denon), Bavouzet, and Heidsieck) are all superb.  Richter and ain't too shabby either.

Yes, Michelangeli is the Debussy interpreter for me, but have been really impressed by the Egorov recordings from that superb EMI box released recently. I'm expecting the Kocsis box to arrive soon with his take on Debussy and will be interested to hear that. Honourable shouts to Richter, Moravec and Van Cliburn for the odds and sods they have recorded. I have owned the Gieseking Preludes on EMI for an aeon, but they simply don't move me... :-\
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Peregrine on May 12, 2009, 12:56:54 AM
How about Osborne on Hyperion? This set has had good reviews:

(http://www.mdt.co.uk/public/pictures/products/standard/CDA67530.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on May 12, 2009, 06:00:24 AM
Quote from: Peregrine on May 12, 2009, 12:56:54 AMHow about Osborne on Hyperion? This set has had good reviews:



Superbly played, in outstanding sound, and about as close to the "hammerless" ideal as a pianist can get.  I've yet to warm to it though.  YMMV.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 12, 2009, 09:01:40 AM
Quote from: Peregrine on May 12, 2009, 12:56:54 AM
How about Osborne on Hyperion? This set has had good reviews:

(http://www.mdt.co.uk/public/pictures/products/standard/CDA67530.jpg)

I love it and, unlike Todd, I have warmed to it-- though I don't love it as much as Michelangeli or Gieseking.

Where I think he really is outstanding is in Book 2 -- he makes Book 2 sound as great as Book 1.

His Ravel disc is good too, by the way.

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 12, 2009, 09:06:33 AM
Quote from: Peregrine on May 11, 2009, 11:23:15 AM
Thanks, Todd, nice to read some comments. I've been looking at buying some Bavouzet for a while now, both his complete Ravel set and the Debussy discs, so perhaps I should just go for it and grab that first Debussy disc with the Preludes.

If you want to get some Bavouzet I really recommend his Haydn disc.

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Bulldog on May 12, 2009, 09:25:27 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 12, 2009, 09:06:33 AM
If you want to get some Bavouzet I really recommend his Haydn disc.

Thanks.  I didn't know Bavouzet had recorded any Haydn.  It appears to be on the Harmonic label but availability is a problem.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 12, 2009, 12:38:20 PM
Quote from: Bulldog on May 12, 2009, 09:25:27 AM
Thanks.  I didn't know Bavouzet had recorded any Haydn.  It appears to be on the Harmonic label but availability is a problem.

I know how to solve that problem.

You order it from www.micmacmusic.com

It's a horrible website which takes ages to fire up.

Don't download the MP3 -- it's crap. I insisted on a refund because of the distortion.

Instead click on the link which says something like "to order a CD" -- they will send you the CD with excellent sound for about 15 Euros. It works -- they are a reputable company.


The recording is great -- especially in the slow movements. Altogether elegant playing and well worth having.


Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Bulldog on May 12, 2009, 12:51:34 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 12, 2009, 12:38:20 PM
I know how to solve that problem.

You order it from www.micmacmusic.com

It's a horrible website which takes ages to fire up.

Don't download the MP3 -- it's crap. I insisted on a refund because of the distortion.

Instead click on the link which says something like "to order a CD" -- they will send you the CD with excellent sound for about 15 Euros. It works -- they are a reputable company.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 13, 2009, 07:45:18 AM
Quote from: Bulldog on May 12, 2009, 12:51:34 PM
Thanks again.

Let me know if you have any problems.

I love your dog.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Herman on May 13, 2009, 10:22:55 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 12, 2009, 12:38:20 PM

It's a horrible website which takes ages to fire up.


That place is a bitch. Every time you switch to cd - mail order the catalogue gets scrambled again.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on May 13, 2009, 12:28:24 PM
Quote from: Herman on May 13, 2009, 10:22:55 AM
That place is a bitch.

Bulldog should know how to handle her.  ;D
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 13, 2009, 01:18:55 PM
Quote from: Herman on May 13, 2009, 10:22:55 AM
That place is a bitch. Every time you switch to cd - mail order the catalogue gets scrambled again.

The link just takes you to an e-mail -- so just e-mail your details and requirements to

harmonic.classics@club-internet.fr

And they'll get back to you after a few days (maybe a week!) It cost me 15 Euros -- pay by Paypal. It came just a few days after my order. A very good CD with booklet and perfect sound

PM me if the difficulties persist.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on June 20, 2009, 02:03:26 PM
I have just spent most of the day listening to Arrau play the Preludes, and comparing recordings of the etudes.

The Arrau was a real revelation at times -- and at times a real downer. I hated his way with the first few preludes, I thought the first really great performances were Des Pas sur la Neige  right through to the end of Book 1. IMO they were really outstanding -- Arrau at his best, with that unique mixture of drama and reflectiveness. In Book Two I thought he was particularly outstanding in the faster preludes.

But it's mostly dreamy Debussy -- not Debussy on acid like Cortot.

For the Etudes, I listened to Uchida, Arrau, Gieseking and Vedernikov. Arrau was good. I need to spend more time with Vedernikov to form a clear judgement, but it's very distinctive, if maybe a little monochromatic. I didn't enjoy Uchida who seemed colourless and bland compared with my favourite -- Gieseking, who seemed to find more music in these pieces that all the others.

I have Bavouzet's Etudes and will listen tomorrow.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Air on November 22, 2009, 10:34:56 PM
What do you all think of Paul Jacobs's rendition of these Preludes?

I just came across them today and it seems to me that many reviewers agree that his Debussy in general (Images, Preludes, Estampes, Etudes, and others) is just mind-blowing, even among the best.   Worth the plunge, perhaps?  ;)

Edit: I did see the posts earlier that mentioned his recordings of these Preludes, but it still would be nice to know HOW it compares instead of "it moved me", or "it was better".  Statements like me don't contribute to my knowledge or help me make my decision.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on November 23, 2009, 08:20:51 AM
Quote from: RexRichter on November 22, 2009, 10:34:56 PMWhat do you all think of Paul Jacobs's rendition of these Preludes?  Worth the plunge, perhaps?



It's quite good, definitely worth the plunge.  He's not as nuanced as Michelangeli or Gieseking, and he's not as smooth and beautiful as Bavouzet, nor as adventurous as Heidsieck or Beroff, but overall the set is almost right up there.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on November 23, 2009, 09:15:51 AM
Quote from: RexRichter on November 22, 2009, 10:34:56 PM
What do you all think of Paul Jacobs's rendition of these Preludes?

I just came across them today and it seems to me that many reviewers agree that his Debussy in general (Images, Preludes, Estampes, Etudes, and others) is just mind-blowing, even among the best.   Worth the plunge, perhaps?  ;)

I used to own the Preludes by Jacobs (among other Jacobs Debussy) and never got along with his more "straightforward", almost brittle manner. I prefer the more "hammerless" approach envisaged by Debussy though without smudging the musical line - clean but nuanced.

Jacobs is more "deep" into the keys and sounds as if he's plunging right into the music whereas I prefer subtlety.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Air on November 23, 2009, 10:25:54 AM
Quote from: Todd on November 23, 2009, 08:20:51 AM


It's quite good, definitely worth the plunge.  He's not as nuanced as Michelangeli or Gieseking, and he's not as smooth and beautiful as Bavouzet, nor as adventurous as Heidsieck or Beroff, but overall the set is almost right up there.

Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on November 23, 2009, 09:15:51 AM
I used to own the Preludes by Jacobs (among other Jacobs Debussy) and never got along with his more "straightforward", almost brittle manner. I prefer the more "hammerless" approach envisaged by Debussy though without smudging the musical line - clean but nuanced.

Jacobs is more "deep" into the keys and sounds as if he's plunging right into the music whereas I prefer subtlety.

:-\

I'll probably get them later on then.  Thanks for the descriptions anyways, they really helped.  I prefer subtlety in my Debussy as well.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on January 31, 2010, 01:18:15 AM
I have been playing Koroliov's preludes a lot over the past couple of weeks.

I am convinced by what he does there. No hammers. Slow and hypnotic, without the self consciousness I sometimes here in Zimmerman.



Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on June 21, 2010, 09:17:02 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51D8DTTDR3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)


I picked up three new complete sets, and one set of Book I alone recently, and I started by listening to this 1951-1952 Philips recording by Hans Henkemans.  The sound is not so hot, which doesn't help anything, but for me the bigger issue is the playing.  Henkemans plays the works pretty quickly, which is no big deal, but in some cases he seems to be rushing through, and the playing is flat.  The dynamic contrasts just don't seem to be there in many cases, even when (or perhaps especially) when one considers Gieseking's roughly contemperaneous recordings, or any number of others from later on.  Just one example comes in The Engulfed Cathedral, which here lacks all mystery and grandeur.  There isn't much in the way of tone color variation, either, though again, this could be because of the recording.  A disappointing disc.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on June 24, 2010, 07:02:45 AM
(https://www.analekta.com/media/analekta/album/t290/PAL297.jpg)


I was able to pick up Francine Kay's Analekta recording of Debussy's first book of Preludes, and assorted short works, for only $2 plus shipping, so I figured why not?  I can't say that this is a great recording, but at the same time I wouldn't mind finding more. 

Three traits dominate: 1.) Oppressively close microphones; 2.) Slow tempi; 3.) Wonderful tonal palette.  Regarding the second item: Ms Kay takes a leisurely approach to all of the pieces, and for the most part it works.  Nothing is rushed, of course, and everything flows.  There's no blocky playing in the Preludes, and everything sounds predictably beautiful.  Sure, an eight minute The Engulfed Cathedral may be pushing things, but she maintains musical tension throughout.  In fact, the extra slow tempo allows her to build up the tension until she pounds, but not hammers, out the loudest passages.  Alas, the close microphones allow one to hear too much of the effort involved.  The same holds true for other pieces.  Also holding true for all of the works is her tonal palette.  Nary a wisp of metal is to be heard.  Everything is lovely.  Perhaps not Bavouzet lovely, but lovely nonetheless. 

The short works don't fare as well.  The Ballade, Masques, Reverie, and L'Isle Joyeuse all suffer from other maladies.  The first is even closer miking than the Preludes!  One can hear not only the pianist's efforts clearly, but also the piano's inner working.  Oops.  Kay's playing is less fluid and graceful sounding as a result, and her generally slow tempi don't work as well.  At times it's all trees and no forest; the musical line is lost.  It's blocky.  Only L'Isle Joyeuse works at all. 

So, a partly good and partly bad disc, hardly the thing that makes one want to hunt down every recording by an artist.  That written, I did some snooping and learned that Ms Kay recorded both books of the Preludes for a Canadian micro-label, and that it was recorded using minimalist miking techniques – a single stereo pair in a small church.  That may be worth sampling. 
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on June 24, 2010, 08:06:39 PM
Ms. Kay does a pretty nice Debussy cello sonata, too.


(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51e7Kv1QCGL._SS500_.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on June 27, 2010, 08:05:58 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WH4GKC20L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

This twofer is like Debussy's Greatest Hits for me.  The set has both books of Preludes, the Estampes, and the two sets of Images.  These comprise my favorite Debussy piano works and would be more than enough in themselves.  The inclusion of Images oubliees, D'un cahier d'esquisses, Masques, and L'Isle joyeuse is a bonus.

The big conceit here is that Philippe Cassard plays the pieces on a 1900 Bechstein for a different sound, rather like Jean Efflam Bavouzet's use of a roughly contemporaneous Steinway D for his Ravel recordings.  Debussy apparently loved the sound of the Bechstein, and this instrument should therefore better represent what Debussy intended, or something like that.  Anyway, the sound of the piano, at least as presented here, is decidedly different than a modern grand.  The overall sound is much warmer.  The middle registers are more naturally reverberant, the low registers less distinct and weighty, and the upper registers less sharp though a tad rougher.  The result much of the time is a pleasing wash of sound.  This is dreamworld Debussy.

The playing is superb.  Cassard has an impressive technique and appears to face no challenges in any of the works.  His dexterity and command are on full display where speed and articulation are called for.  Rarely have I heard such a lovely, flowing rendition of Ondine.  Les tierces alternees and Feux d'artifice end the second book of Preludes with panache.  Indeed, he seems most at home in the second book.  Not that the first book isn't superb.  Okay, he doesn't build up The Engulfed Cathedral to the scale I often prefer, but that's a quibble.  The other works are nearly as successful.  The Estampes starts off with one of the most beguiling takes on Pagodes I've heard.  The other two movements, though, are more forceful and serious than the norm.  The same can be said of all the other works.  And of the Preludes, really.  Mr Cassard most definitely takes his Debussy seriously.  Were it not for the soundworld the piano creates, there is a chance that the music would come across a tad severe.  As it is everything blends nicely.  Cassard's Debussy doesn't quite reach the exalted heights for me, but it is very high grade nonetheless.

Sound is quite good for these early 1990s recordings from Musicdisc, now on Accord, allowing for the difference in piano sound described above.  (The lack of modern clarity may turn some off.)  I know that Cassard recorded the complete works in the 90s, and I would not be averse to hearing the rest.  He apparently has also made a specialty of playing the complete works in consecutive concerts, something else I wouldn't mind hearing.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: james66 on June 27, 2010, 06:31:55 PM

Great, another period instrument recording of Debussy! I've been on the lookout for these, they are rare indeed. I've only heard Alain Planes for period Debussy. How does Cassard compare, Todd?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on June 27, 2010, 07:16:19 PM
Quote from: james66 on June 27, 2010, 06:31:55 PMHow does Cassard compare, Todd?


Don't know, I haven't heard Planes.  That will probably happen a bit later this year.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on July 28, 2010, 07:21:51 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518NEQg1KgL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)


Monique Haas is one of those names I've only seen until now.  I faced a choice when sampling her Debussy: DG or Erato?  The DG recordings are earlier and do not encompass all of the works, and would be (I surmised) in poorer sound.  The Erato recordings are later, presumably better sounding, but I thought there may be the possibility that Ms Haas would be past her prime.  Anyway, since the Erato set includes the near-complete works of Debussy and the complete works of Ravel, it seemed the better fit for me.

Ms Haas plays Debussy in a most natural way.  Her playing is of the French school – elegant, swift, unsentimental, though a bit more forceful than some others.  In some ways her playing reminds me of Robert Casadesus and Daniel Ericourt.  In overall approach she is more similar to Casadesus, and in her "natural" Debussy she reminds me of Ericourt, though ultimately she lacks the latter's seeming effortlessness.  Her Debussy is not soft, hammerless, or dreamy.  It is characterized more by precision, (tastefeul) restraint, clear articulation, and clarity.  Everything seems right.  Everything fits.  Even so, it's not my ideal Debussy.  It's unusual to hear something that at once sounds so right yet lacks that something special to make it truly top notch.  Anyway, Haas seems more at home in the swifter preludes, and even though some grandeur and mystery may be missing the The Engulfed Cathedral, say, or some of the wit in something like General Lavine, there is a lot here to enjoy.  So, not world-beating set of preludes, perhaps, but substantial enough to sample many times.  Sound is very good and of its era (late 60s and early 70s).

As to the other works, the rest of her Debussy is, not surprisingly, stylistically similar and quite good.  Given her playing style, I was expecting her Ravel to be top notch, but it was not to be.  Again, her playing very good, but something is missing for me.  It's still very good, just not of Casadesus or Simon or Bavouzet quality. 
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on July 28, 2010, 08:36:17 AM
Quote from: Todd on July 28, 2010, 07:21:51 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518NEQg1KgL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)


Monique Haas is one of those names I've only seen until now.  I faced a choice when sampling her Debussy: DG or Erato?  The DG recordings are earlier and do not encompass all of the works, and would be (I surmised) in poorer sound.  The Erato recordings are later, presumably better sounding, but I thought there may be the possibility that Ms Haas would be past her prime.  Anyway, since the Erato set includes the near-complete works of Debussy and the complete works of Ravel, it seemed the better fit for me.

Ms Haas plays Debussy in a most natural way.  Her playing is of the French school – elegant, swift, unsentimental, though a bit more forceful than some others.  In some ways her playing reminds me of Robert Casadesus and Daniel Ericourt.  In overall approach she is more similar to Casadesus, and in her "natural" Debussy she reminds me of Ericourt, though ultimately she lacks the latter's seeming effortlessness.  Her Debussy is not soft, hammerless, or dreamy.  It is characterized more by precision, (tastefeul) restraint, clear articulation, and clarity.  Everything seems right.  Everything fits.  Even so, it's not my ideal Debussy.  It's unusual to hear something that at once sounds so right yet lacks that something special to make it truly top notch.  Anyway, Haas seems more at home in the swifter preludes, and even though some grandeur and mystery may be missing the The Engulfed Cathedral, say, or some of the wit in something like General Lavine, there is a lot here to enjoy.  So, not world-beating set of preludes, perhaps, but substantial enough to sample many times.  Sound is very good and of its era (late 60s and early 70s).

As to the other works, the rest of her Debussy is, not surprisingly, stylistically similar and quite good.  Given her playing style, I was expecting her Ravel to be top notch, but it was not to be.  Again, her playing very good, but something is missing for me.  It's still very good, just not of Casadesus or Simon or Bavouzet quality.

Yes -- I think I agree with you. I like her Debussy maybe more than you, partly because it shows anopther, non-dreamy, less impressionistic way. And that's interesting. I prefer her to Bavouzet in the preludes. I don't know Casadesus's.

Do you know Cortots first recording of the preludes?  The one on Biddulph? Also lively, swift, jazzy, not dreamy. Better than Haas.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on July 28, 2010, 09:18:00 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on July 28, 2010, 08:36:17 AM
Do you know Cortots first recording of the preludes?



Alas, no.  I keep meaning to get his Debussy but never get around to it.  Perhaps in the fall.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on July 28, 2010, 09:51:38 AM
Quote from: Todd on July 28, 2010, 09:18:00 AM


Alas, no.  I keep meaning to get his Debussy but never get around to it.  Perhaps in the fall.

I'm curious about what you will think.

The first one is , I think, very good, though the second one is easier to find. Let me know if you want me to upload the first one -- it is out of copyright of course.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Clever Hans on July 28, 2010, 12:26:04 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on July 28, 2010, 09:51:38 AM
I'm curious about what you will think.

The first one is , I think, very good, though the second one is easier to find. Let me know if you want me to upload the first one -- it is out of copyright of course.

Is the Biddulph disc the only source for the earlier recording? The Emi Icon Master Pianist box has Preludes 1-7, 9 and 12 listed as from 1937; 8 from 1931; 10 from 1947; and 11 from 1949.  I wonder if those 1937 dates are correct, seeing as the box release is recent.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Philoctetes on July 28, 2010, 01:11:33 PM
Quote from: Holden on September 06, 2008, 11:29:01 PM
The first pianist to turn me on to Debussy was Richter and his BBC recordings of the Preludes. While Michelangeli also sounded good he didn't convince like Richter did. My latest acquisition is the Egorov box set and his Preludes, spread over two CDs, also sound very good to me and very close to Richter for top choice.

Richter for me as well. Here's a link of him playing Book 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IzVTSMPT38

Such a great sound.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on July 28, 2010, 10:26:18 PM
Quote from: Clever Hans on July 28, 2010, 12:26:04 PM
Is the Biddulph disc the only source for the earlier recording? The Emi Icon Master Pianist box has Preludes 1-7, 9 and 12 listed as from 1937; 8 from 1931; 10 from 1947; and 11 from 1949.  I wonder if those 1937 dates are correct, seeing as the box release is recent.

The preludes on Biddulph are from 1930.

I can't explain your dates on the EMI set – this discography is complicated!

http://fischer.hosting.paran.com/music//Cortot/discography-cortot.htm#Debussy

I'll let you have the 1930s set and you can compare.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 04, 2010, 07:20:33 AM
(http://img.hmv.co.jp/image/jacket/400/10/7/4/045.jpg)



While my search for recordings of Debussy's Preludes has not been as exhaustive as for Beethoven's sonatas, I have had to look overseas to find new and interesting recordings to hear.  A case in point is Jacques Rouvier's complete Debussy set on Denon, from the 80s, which now appears to be available only in Japan.  I've read a very few quite good things about his Debussy, so last time I ordered from the land of the rising sun, I decided to throw this in.  I'm immensely glad I did.

This is some of the best Debussy playing I've heard.  Like Monique Haas, Rouvier sounds natural in Debussy.  His style, though, is an even better fit.  While never hazy or dreamy, his sound is often more blended and definitely more colorful than Haas, or for that matter pretty much any of the pianists I've sample lately, save Francine Key. 

In the Preludes, he generally adopts swift-ish tempi (it's a one disc set), but he never sounds rushed.  His tonal palette is nigh on perfect.  His sense of rhythm and timing is about as good as it gets.  Okay, in the louder passages he doesn't display the hammerless "ideal" some look for, but I'm fine with that.  The now old-ish recordings can also sound metallic at times, too, but for the time they were recorded they sound fine.  Throw in magnificent recordings of the other works, including an Estampes that at least matches the best of the best, and this is one heck of a set.  It definitely matches up to my modern favorites – Bavouzet and, at the pinnacle, Beroff (on Denon) – and stands up nicely to Michelangeli, Gieseking, and Ericourt.  This set offers a perfect example of why I keep on buying new versions of oft heard works.  One of my purchases of the year.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on August 04, 2010, 09:17:23 AM
Quote from: Todd on August 04, 2010, 07:20:33 AM
(http://img.hmv.co.jp/image/jacket/400/10/7/4/045.jpg)



While my search for recordings of Debussy's Preludes has not been as exhaustive as for Beethoven's sonatas, I have had to look overseas to find new and interesting recordings to hear.  A case in point is Jacques Rouvier's complete Debussy set on Denon, from the 80s, which now appears to be available only in Japan.  I've read a very few quite good things about his Debussy, so last time I ordered from the land of the rising sun, I decided to throw this in.  I'm immensely glad I did.

This is some of the best Debussy playing I've heard.  Like Monique Haas, Rouvier sounds natural in Debussy.  His style, though, is an even better fit.  While never hazy or dreamy, his sound is often more blended and definitely more colorful than Haas, or for that matter pretty much any of the pianists I've sample lately, save Francine Key. 

In the Preludes, he generally adopts swift-ish tempi (it's a one disc set), but he never sounds rushed.  His tonal palette is nigh on perfect.  His sense of rhythm and timing is about as good as it gets.  Okay, in the louder passages he doesn't display the hammerless "ideal" some look for, but I'm fine with that.  The now old-ish recordings can also sound metallic at times, too, but for the time they were recorded they sound fine.  Throw in magnificent recordings of the other works, including an Estampes that at least matches the best of the best, and this is one heck of a set.  It definitely matches up to my modern favorites – Bavouzet and, at the pinnacle, Beroff (on Denon) – and stands up nicely to Michelangeli, Gieseking, and Ericourt.  This set offers a perfect example of why I keep on buying new versions of oft heard works.  One of my purchases of the year.

Thanks.

Can you say a bit more about how he plays the Etudes? Good recordings of them are relatively thin on the ground and I'm particularly interested in them -- if they are interesting interpretations  I may well get the set.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 05, 2010, 06:19:22 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on August 04, 2010, 09:17:23 AM
Can you say a bit more about how he plays the Etudes?


The Etudes are one of the best things about the set.  I generally find the Etudes a bit too austere and cold, but Rouvier plays with color and an almost jazzy feel at times.  And he infuses some of them with what I can only describe as a sense of fun, at least at times.   
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on August 05, 2010, 08:56:51 AM
Quote from: Todd on August 05, 2010, 06:19:22 AM

The Etudes are one of the best things about the set.  I generally find the Etudes a bit too austere and cold, but Rouvier plays with color and an almost jazzy feel at times.  And he infuses some of them with what I can only describe as a sense of fun, at least at times.   

Sold.

best Etudes I have heard are Richter's. He just makes them sound very very exciting.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Henk on August 18, 2010, 10:21:47 AM
Quote from: Todd on August 04, 2010, 07:20:33 AM
(http://img.hmv.co.jp/image/jacket/400/10/7/4/045.jpg)



While my search for recordings of Debussy's Preludes has not been as exhaustive as for Beethoven's sonatas, I have had to look overseas to find new and interesting recordings to hear.  A case in point is Jacques Rouvier's complete Debussy set on Denon, from the 80s, which now appears to be available only in Japan.  I've read a very few quite good things about his Debussy, so last time I ordered from the land of the rising sun, I decided to throw this in.  I'm immensely glad I did.

This is some of the best Debussy playing I've heard.  Like Monique Haas, Rouvier sounds natural in Debussy.  His style, though, is an even better fit.  While never hazy or dreamy, his sound is often more blended and definitely more colorful than Haas, or for that matter pretty much any of the pianists I've sample lately, save Francine Key. 

In the Preludes, he generally adopts swift-ish tempi (it's a one disc set), but he never sounds rushed.  His tonal palette is nigh on perfect.  His sense of rhythm and timing is about as good as it gets.  Okay, in the louder passages he doesn't display the hammerless "ideal" some look for, but I'm fine with that.  The now old-ish recordings can also sound metallic at times, too, but for the time they were recorded they sound fine.  Throw in magnificent recordings of the other works, including an Estampes that at least matches the best of the best, and this is one heck of a set.  It definitely matches up to my modern favorites – Bavouzet and, at the pinnacle, Beroff (on Denon) – and stands up nicely to Michelangeli, Gieseking, and Ericourt.  This set offers a perfect example of why I keep on buying new versions of oft heard works.  One of my purchases of the year.

I like to purchase that set, but is it OOP? I can't find it at MDT or Amazon.

Henk
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 18, 2010, 10:26:58 AM
Quote from: Henk on August 18, 2010, 10:21:47 AM
I like to purchase that set, but is it OOP? I can't find it at MDT or Amazon.



It's available only in Japan as far as I know.  HMV Japan has it - that's where I bought mine.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Henk on August 18, 2010, 10:58:55 AM
Thanks Todd, and thanks for the recommendation too.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: PaulThomas on August 18, 2010, 11:30:51 AM
It may be sniffed at by the more purist on the board, but Colin Matthew's orchestrations of the Debussy preludes are excellent and have received a fair bit of coverage over here as they were written for the Halle -I can only recommend half of them first hand but they are excellent orchestrations.

http://www.amazon.com/Colin-Matthews-Debussy-Preludes-Postlude/dp/B003XN2JBY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1282159641&sr=8-5
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on September 13, 2010, 08:13:39 AM

(http://www.audio-ideas.com/recordings/graphics/s_debuss.jpg)


How slow do you like your Debussy Preludes?  How about really, really slow?  As in over ninety-four minutes slow.  That's slower than slow.  No one else among the two-disc Preludes crowd takes near that long, at least in my experience.  Anyway, after picking up Francine Kay's Analekta recording of Book I, and for the most part enjoying it, except for the claustrophobically close sound, I found that she had previously recorded the entire set for a tiny Canadian label recorded in audiophile fashion.  (The company in question, Audio Ideas, appears to be something like a Canuck Stereophile, but I could be wrong.) 

The same basic traits that I described for her Analekta set hold true here.  Besides being really slow, her playing is tonally lustrous, only very occasionally betraying any steel, and it never, never sounds as though the music is being hammered out.  Indeed, it is almost hammerless, which is one way to play Debussy.  The broad tempi allow some pieces, like La Cathedrale engloutie, to unfold nicely, and there is often a sense of, well, of dreaminess.  Sometimes things may go too far, as in the over six minute La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune, but even then it sounds nice.  Something else that is more evident in this recording is how skilled Ms Kay is at playing piano and pianissimo.  Things sometimes will start quietly, only to become quieter yet, and then a little bit quieter again.  All the while, the tonal palette is widely varied.  Ms Kay does indeed have some fine chops, and she does play some of the music with more traditional timings, and she can spin off the faster passages in pieces like Feux d'artifice easily enough.  She's playing the music the way she wants to play it. 

Now, to the minimalist, audiophile sound – it delivers.  The mid-90s sound is better than many piano recordings of similar vintage, with wide dynamic range and a full sound, with some nice hall (or rather, church) sound included.  The mikes were obviously not too far from the piano as Ms Kay's effort in some loud passages is evident.

Overall, this is a nice set, offering a distinctive take on the works.  It is not a world-beater, nor is it essential listening.  But it's none too shabby.

My only complaint has to do with delivery time.  It took about six weeks for the disc to cross the border, since apparently everyone at Audio Ideas takes the month of August off.  Must be nice.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Herman on September 14, 2010, 08:24:58 AM
Funny, while making an attempt to rearrange some cd shelves, a couple of weeks ago, I hit upon Jacques Rouvier's Debussy, too, not in the boxset, but a couple of seperate cd's, and immediately I thought, too, this is a great way to play the Preludes. Masculine and sensitive, with humor and mystery.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: RJR on January 01, 2011, 04:11:18 PM
All of you should get a hold of the Welte-Mignon piano roll recording of Debussy playing Debussy. You'll be in for a shock.
It's over 80 minutes long, so there are lots of goodies to mull over.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: RJR on January 01, 2011, 04:16:15 PM
Claudio Arrau, Jorge Bolet, Jean-Philippe Collard, Moniqe Haas, Aldo Ciccolini, to name a few more.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on January 05, 2011, 02:20:31 PM
Quote from: RJR on January 01, 2011, 04:16:15 PM
Claudio Arrau...

Yes, Arrau's Debussy is wonderful.  :)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Oldnslow on January 06, 2011, 02:28:37 PM
The Colin Mathews complete orchestrations of the Preludes have recently  been released on the Halle Orchestra's label as a two-fer---they are beautifully written and performed, and provide an interesting alternative to the piano versions of these great pieces.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: RJR on January 25, 2011, 04:55:05 PM
Quote from: George on January 05, 2011, 02:20:31 PM
Yes, Arrau's Debussy is wonderful.  :)
You can even hear him breathing on occasion.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: FideLeo on January 26, 2011, 05:42:15 AM
Quote from: Todd on June 27, 2010, 08:05:58 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WH4GKC20L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

From the recording mentioned above, in Philippe Cassard he plays a Bechstein grand piano, 1900

"la cathédrale engloutie"

http://www.youtube.com/v/CMkgA0g4I0Y

"pagodes"

http://www.youtube.com/v/UNRYNCcdNUg


Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on January 28, 2011, 05:46:53 PM
Quote from: RJR on January 25, 2011, 04:55:05 PM
You can even hear him breathing on occasion.

Yes, I notice it on the Chopin Nocturnes by him as well.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: PaulSC on October 02, 2012, 04:00:36 PM
New Debussy recordings by Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Angela Hewitt, and Philippe Bianconi are out next week.

[asin]B0085T1SCC[/asin]
[asin]B008R3JM3S[/asin]
[asin]B00865P3F8[/asin]
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on November 29, 2014, 01:40:17 PM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71JJGmxQHHL._SX425_.jpg)


HIP Debussy Preludes.  Hiroko Sasaki uses an 1873 Pleyel for her recording, and the results are partly ear-opening.  Here is hammerless Debussy in most of its glory.  The sound is not like a Steinway.  The piano has excellent dynamics - though it can't match a Steinway D - and it lacks the brilliant, bright colors of a modern piano, but the color palette is most attractive, and it is a perfect fit for Debussy's music.  Sasaki's playing is obviously thoroughly prepared and well played, with nary a note out of place, but her penchant for speed, sans Gieseking's effortlessness and insouciance (I'm referring to the 30s recordings), and her unyielding seriousness, without Michelangeli's or Zimerman's absolute command of every aspect of playing, result in an excellent but not world beating disc.  Of course, it is perhaps a bit unfair to compare Ms Sasaki to three of the greatest pianists of the last hundred years, but the comparisons are ultimately inevitable. 

A couple things popped into my mind while listening.  First, I would love to hear Michel Beroff, probably my preferred living Debussy pianist, play some Debussy, namely the Estampes and Etudes, on this instrument.  That could be completely ear-opening, if you will.  Second, this instrument is the perfect one for Faure's piano music.  I hope someone who makes recordings agrees and can make that happen.  I can already imagine what the Barcarolles might sound like.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Oldnslow on November 29, 2014, 02:10:21 PM
I very much enjoy Alexie Lubimov's Debussy Preludes on an early piano on ECM
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on February 01, 2015, 10:15:41 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Po7Cen--L._SX425_.jpg)



Jean-Rodolphe Kars playing Debussy's Preludes, Fantaisie, and some Messiaen.  This is even better than Kars' Schubert.  Kars' slightly soft edged sound in the Debussy never really sounds hammerless, but nor does it sound hard.  Kars' rubato and dynamic gradations are unique and perfectly judged, and his tempo choices are sometimes conventional, sometimes a bit quick, and sometimes a bit slow like in Danseuses de Delphes and La cathedrale engloutie.  In the latter, one of the main pieces I focus on when listening to the Preludes, Kars does indeed achieve a sense of Profondement Calme, the over eight minute timing revealing more of that meditative goodness first experienced in Kars' Schubert.  The second book of Preludes opens with the haziest, slowest Brouillards I've heard, and it almost sounds as though it's infused with hints of Scriabin and Ligeti.  Kars generally plays the second book in slower than normal fashion throughout, but then he'll plat something like Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses at a more standard pace, along with uncommon clarity and unique rubato.  This is definitely a willful set of Preludes, but it's my type of willful.

As to the Fantaisie, well, the (slightly too closely miked) soloist and conductor make the best pairing in this work since Walter Gieseking and Kurt Schroeder, but the late 60s Decca sound, while not as good as today's best, is much better than in the Gieseking set.  To the extent I have a go-to recording for this work, this would now be it.

Then there's Kars' Messiaen.  The slightly soft-edged sound that permeates the Debussy and Schubert is replaced by sharp edged, clear, intense playing in Regards de l'Esprit de joie and Le merle bleu from the Catalog d'oiseaux, and the same traits sans intensity in the Regard du silence.  The episodic playing displayed in the Schubert is repeated here, and it works even better.  This is vibrant, dedicated Messiaen playing, easily up there with Peter Serkin or Eugeniusz Knapik.

It's something of a shame, from a selfish listener perspective, that Mr Kars gave up his performing and recording career, but at least this small selection is out there.  Maybe I'll try his Liszt, which is paired with recordings by Pascal Roge.  Dare I hope that Warner frees Kars' 70s Schoenberg from behind the vinyl curtain?  If he brings some of the style displayed in the three discs I've now listened to, well, it would be something to hear, to say the least.  This set reinforces why I keep on collecting new recordings of core rep.  Wow.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: terje on September 13, 2015, 05:50:08 AM
not great sound but for some different interpretations try Mikhail Pletnev, a live recording available online.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on September 13, 2015, 07:35:53 AM
Quote from: terje on September 13, 2015, 05:50:08 AM
not great sound but for some different interpretations try Mikhail Pletnev, a live recording available online.

Yes I saw him play Debussy in London and it was a wonderful concert.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Monsieur Croche on January 10, 2016, 03:28:47 AM
Bump. A subject I'm keen on. Please excuse my not scanning all the pages to make sure I am not replicating a recommendation.

Monique Haas, if not included when mentioning performance of Debussy, is bordering on the criminal. She was phenomenally good, a great pianist with as great a depth of musicianship. Too, she was in a direct line of descent of Debussy and his earlier fine interpreters. The complete piano recordings, including at least book II of the preludes [I have a certain memory both books are recorded] are on DGG
http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13207/

I think you can find her complete Debussy on youtube, which serves well as an introduction to this incomparable musician and as an audition prior deciding to purchase the recordings.

Monique Haas is right up there with the best of the best; I would be surprised if anyone who has not heard her would not be deeply and favorably impressed.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: North Star on January 10, 2016, 03:38:44 AM
Quote from: Monsieur Croche on January 10, 2016, 03:28:47 AM
Bump. A subject I'm keen on. Please excuse my not scanning all the pages to make sure I am not replicating a recommendation.

Monique Haas [...]
Quote from: Todd on July 28, 2010, 07:21:51 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518NEQg1KgL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)


Monique Haas is one of those names I’ve only seen until now.  I faced a choice when sampling her Debussy: DG or Erato?  The DG recordings are earlier and do not encompass all of the works, and would be (I surmised) in poorer sound.  The Erato recordings are later, presumably better sounding, but I thought there may be the possibility that Ms Haas would be past her prime.  Anyway, since the Erato set includes the near-complete works of Debussy and the complete works of Ravel, it seemed the better fit for me.

Ms Haas plays Debussy in a most natural way.  Her playing is of the French school – elegant, swift, unsentimental, though a bit more forceful than some others.  In some ways her playing reminds me of Robert Casadesus and Daniel Ericourt.  In overall approach she is more similar to Casadesus, and in her “natural” Debussy she reminds me of Ericourt, though ultimately she lacks the latter’s seeming effortlessness.  Her Debussy is not soft, hammerless, or dreamy.  It is characterized more by precision, (tastefeul) restraint, clear articulation, and clarity.  Everything seems right.  Everything fits.  Even so, it’s not my ideal Debussy.  It’s unusual to hear something that at once sounds so right yet lacks that something special to make it truly top notch.  Anyway, Haas seems more at home in the swifter preludes, and even though some grandeur and mystery may be missing the The Engulfed Cathedral, say, or some of the wit in something like General Lavine, there is a lot here to enjoy.  So, not world-beating set of preludes, perhaps, but substantial enough to sample many times.  Sound is very good and of its era (late 60s and early 70s).

As to the other works, the rest of her Debussy is, not surprisingly, stylistically similar and quite good.  Given her playing style, I was expecting her Ravel to be top notch, but it was not to be.  Again, her playing very good, but something is missing for me.  It’s still very good, just not of Casadesus or Simon or Bavouzet quality.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: ritter on January 10, 2016, 05:02:17 AM
I bought the Erato set with Mme. Haas's Debussy and Ravel not too long ago.I had very high expectations, as reviews of her artistry wer almost invariably positive. And yet, I must say I was rather disppointed. I found everything n this set quite lacking in character, a kind of "middle-of-the road" approach to Debussy (not too fuzzy and misty, but on the other hand not that precise and clear either). The word that sums it up to me (at least my aimpression at that first earing) was "bland". Perhaps I should revisit this set again (but really haven't felt like doing so since I purchased it).
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on January 31, 2017, 09:25:21 AM
(Bringing this over from the WAYLT thread.)

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51wDg0lUFZL._SY425_.jpg)


The first disc of two from Michel Dalberto covering the two books of Images and Preludes, with Children's Corner tossed in.  This is one of the longer gestating sets of these works, if you will, spanning eighteen years from this recording to his more recent one on Aparte music.

In the liner notes of his Aparte release of the second books, Dalberto states that he sees Debussy's music as more related to Liszt's rather than Chopin's, and it shows in his playing.  This is extroverted Debussy, large in scale, and more about mezzo forte and forte playing than delicate shades of piano.  The Images are not delicate, but they are attractive in a fleet, sure, and virtuosic way.  There's a somewhat detached or superficial sense to the playing.  The same can be said about the Preludes.  Dalberto plays splendidly, but when he plays loud, it's loud, and nearly harsh, but it's brightly metallic colored, if you will, with flinty-ish upper registers.  Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest nearly thunders, and La Cathedrale engloutie starts off somewhat subdued and elegant and builds to a massive, weighty, cutting, bracing crescendo.  Think of this set as masculine, large-auditorium Debussy.

The competing set that comes immediately to mind while listening is Krystian Zimerman's set of Preludes.  I've long found them to be Liszt-infused, and so is Dalberto's playing.  Dalberto glides along the surface more, and sounds less precisely controlled as to either dynamics or tone.  Maybe this is not quite the same quality as Zimerman's, or maybe it is.  (OK, Zimerman's is better.)

Sound is excellent for a late 90s piano recording, but it reveals Dalberto's style, so no real lush piano sounds here.




(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XCAINkwHL._SS425.jpg)


The second disc of Dalberto's Debussy sorta cycles.  This live disc was recorded at a single recital in May 2015, with Dalberto playing on a Fazioli.  The recital opens with Children's Corner, and while Dalberto's style can still be said to be Liszt-infused, his playing here offers more in the way of nuance at the mezzo piano level, though he never really achieves a truly softly sound.  He does, however, take advantage of the brighter upper registers of his instrument, to good coloristic effect, and when he pounds out a vibrant Golliwog's Cakewalk, with sharply delineated, steely color, it is all excitement.  Better yet is the second book of Images, where Dalberto plays with evern greater dynamic variation, and plays with some purposeful rubato and desynchronization of hands, and in the second movement his left hand figurations take on uncommon meaning and focus.  The second book of Preludes is better still.  He applies all of the traits mentioned to a more notable and refined degree.  Of course, some may find the playing too mannered, and that's understandable.  But combine these traits with a massive dynamic range capped off by piercing (in a very good way) or thundering forte playing, and one gets beefy Debussy of distinction.  This is most definitely not Debussy for people who want a softer, legato laden, delicately shaded Debussy, that's for sure.

Sound quality for a live recording is outstanding.  A memorable release.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: GioCar on March 05, 2017, 06:48:48 AM
A few words for Dino Ciani

(https://img.discogs.com/ScxZz-Zd71W-Eypk5BKcaZNrSWI=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-7585698-1444667896-5682.jpeg.jpg)(https://img.discogs.com/7iId2yPtLnjtRjv9VUStOisgpgs=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-7585758-1445181960-9150.jpeg.jpg)

I grew up with these albums, they are rooted deep inside me. When I listen to other pianists I always compare them with Dino's unique performances and find that, after all, these are the ones I still love most.   
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on March 05, 2017, 07:08:57 AM
Quote from: GioCar on March 05, 2017, 06:48:48 AM
A few words for Dino Ciani


You can get his entire DG output in one box now.  I'm slowly working my way through it.  I've had the Preludes for a long time, and I'm not as fond of them as you are, though they do have their moments.  For me, Ciani will always be the pianist with the LvB cycle in the worst sonics possible, though that is not through any fault of his.

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51SsFlQKROL._SX425_.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Turner on March 05, 2017, 07:51:14 AM
Daniel Ericourt was mentioned briefly, but the often fine/interesting, complete cycles of for example Fou Tsong (modern sound), Marcelle Meyer & Livia Rev weren´t.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on March 06, 2017, 08:58:10 AM
Quote from: Turner on March 05, 2017, 07:51:14 AM
Daniel Ericourt was mentioned briefly, but the often fine/interesting, complete cycles of for example Fou Tsong (modern sound), Marcelle Meyer & Livia Rev weren´t.

How interventionist is Ericourt? Someone said to me that the he really does fiddle around with the score, but I can't check for myself.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Turner on March 06, 2017, 11:24:01 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on March 06, 2017, 08:58:10 AM
How interventionist is Ericourt? Someone said to me that the he really does fiddle around with the score, but I can't check for myself.

Ericourt:
- "Perhaps the easiest way to describe Ericourt's superb, insightful pianism is that he synthesizes the best qualities of his generation's two premier Debussy players, fusing Walter Gieseking's tonal refinement with Robert Casadesus' highly articulated fingerwork. More often than not, Ericourt's rhythmic exactitude, wide dynamic range, and textural differentiation give clarity and shape to passages other pianists habitually blur (such as ostinatos, trills, and arpeggios"
http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-10358/

- Another reviewer underlining clarity: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?/topic/31334-daniel-ericourts-complete-debussy-piano-works/

- http://cvnc.org/article.cfm?articleId=4146

- http://www.greensboro.com/funeral-held-today-for-famed-concert-pianist-pianist-daniel-ericourt/article_6300ce7d-5ffe-51c1-9bdd-74ef6f5430ea.html

So technically he is good. My impression is that he can be interventionist, obvious from listening to some rather free-style playing in "Minstrels", "La Serenade Interrompue" or his very light and dance-like "La Danse de Puck". But it also seems organized to me. In "Ce que a vu le Vent d´Ouest"  he is coherent and structured, then there´s a bit of extra wilderness almost at the end, to underline effects, for example. As regards his accents in individual notes, I´m not able to judge it.

Certainly original and interesting recordings. I´ve got the old Kapp LPs. CDs seem very expensive right now.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: aukhawk on March 07, 2017, 08:05:38 AM
Quote from: Todd on November 29, 2014, 01:40:17 PM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71JJGmxQHHL._SX425_.jpg)

HIP Debussy Preludes.  Hiroko Sasaki uses an 1873 Pleyel for her recording, and the results are partly ear-opening.  Here is hammerless Debussy in most of its glory.  The sound is not like a Steinway.  The piano has excellent dynamics - though it can't match a Steinway D - and it lacks the brilliant, bright colors of a modern piano, but the color palette is most attractive, and it is a perfect fit for Debussy's music. ...

I was interested by Todd's description of this piano sound, and so acquired this recording a couple of days ago.  It is gorgeous.  Whereas any attempt to fit the sound of a modern concert grand into my humble living room would inevitably be doomed to failure, this just seems to fit right in, it's just so ... believable.

I'm no expert on performances, but this certainly makes the other two recordings I have (Martino Tirimo, Gordon Fergus-Thompson) completely redundant, they just sound prosaic in comparison.
Thanks, Todd, for your inviting overview of this release.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on March 09, 2017, 07:07:30 PM
Quote from: Holden on September 06, 2008, 11:29:01 PM
My latest acquisition is the Egorov box set and his Preludes, spread over two CDs, also sound very good to me and very close to Richter for top choice.

Egorov is awesome, with perhaps the softest touch of any pianist I've heard in the Preludes. But this soft touch isn't borne from a lightweight. On the contrary, he's happy brooding his way through each piece and carving out phrases.

In the end, though, I'm most fond of Kocsis. He's his usual exploratory self, with faster pacing in some pieces than is perhaps the norm, but not a single bar sounds rushed. He's great at manipulating a phrase, or whole sections, to flesh out the contrasts while keeping a solid grip on the whole. The end result is some mighty fine fantasy.


[asin]B000007N5K[/asin]
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on March 13, 2017, 03:49:48 PM
Quote from: Turner on March 05, 2017, 07:51:14 AM
Daniel Ericourt was mentioned briefly, but the often fine/interesting, complete cycles of for example Fou Tsong (modern sound), Marcelle Meyer & Livia Rev weren´t.

Livia Rev is definitely a dark-horse, but I agree she's great. But which recording are you referring to? She recorded a complete cycle for Saga in the early '80s and a partial cycle for Hyperion in the early '90s. I have the Saga set as well as her book 2 preludes on Hyperion.

She's a tad more animated for Saga but not as well recorded. The better sound on Hyperion allows for more nuance and greater depth, but overall I'd say neither has a leg up on the other. I think I slightly prefer the Hyperion, just for the sound.

One thing's for certain, though: she's the absolute anthesis of Beroff, Kocsis, and their ilk. Abandon isn't in her genes. Not that she's staid or reticent or anything, just that she's all about making every block of sound stand out. Obviously she knows how to make it work, though, so I give her plenty of kudos.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on March 13, 2017, 04:03:03 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 12, 2009, 09:01:40 AM
Where I think he really is outstanding is in Book 2 -- he makes Book 2 sound as great as Book 1.

Interesting view. For me Book 2 is the preferred book, reaching farther into the future than the Book 1. But they're both great, of course!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Turner on March 13, 2017, 10:47:15 PM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on March 13, 2017, 03:49:48 PM
Livia Rev is definitely a dark-horse, but I agree she's great. But which recording are you referring to? She recorded a complete cycle for Saga in the early '80s and a partial cycle for Hyperion in the early '90s. I have the Saga set as well as her book 2 preludes on Hyperion.

She's a tad more animated for Saga but not as well recorded. The better sound on Hyperion allows for more nuance and greater depth, but overall I'd say neither has a leg up on the other. I think I slightly prefer the Hyperion, just for the sound.

One thing's for certain, though: she's the absolute anthesis of Beroff, Kocsis, and their ilk. Abandon isn't in her genes. Not that she's staid or reticent or anything, just that she's all about making every block of sound stand out. Obviously she knows how to make it work, though, so I give her plenty of kudos.

I have the Saga sets, some more Debussy as well with her.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on March 18, 2017, 07:43:41 AM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/718diGmPhVL._SY425_.jpg)


Another Frenchman joins the fray in Debussy's Preludes.  A student of Gaby Casadesus and Vitaly Margulis, Philippe Bianconi's tutelage was first rate.  His playing is, too.  He plays the entire set at a somewhat brisk seventy-four-ish minutes, and yet he never sounds rushed, and on more than one occasion he imparts a nice, languid sensibility without ever overdoing it.  Everything sounds natural, for lack of a better word, and no individual piece really stands out.  (Okay, The Engulfed Cathedral could have been a bit grander in scale.)  And both books sound roughly equal, whereas a fair number of pianists seem to be better in one or the other.  The second book has more of a cool feel than a more modernist feel, which is to the good here. 

Sound is close, a bit dry, and mostly about midrange, without a lot of lower register heft or upper register sparkle, but it is still superb.

La Dolce Vita's hit rate remains very high.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on March 18, 2017, 09:50:06 AM
Quote from: Todd on March 18, 2017, 07:43:41 AM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/718diGmPhVL._SY425_.jpg)

I have that Preludes disc en route to me as I type. Looking forward to hearing it.

Interesting observation about the sonics. YouTube has several movements from this disc available for listening and I think I've noticed what you describe (I'll know more when I actually hear the disc). Although I have a feeling there could be some bias on my part since the sonics on Bianconi's DSD Lyrinx recordings are some of the finest in the catalogue.

If you ever come across Bianconi's disc with Images cheaply it might be worth your while.



(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517h-OFxPdL.jpg)

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on March 18, 2017, 11:06:32 AM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on March 18, 2017, 09:50:06 AM...Although I have a feeling there could be some bias on my part since the sonics on Bianconi's DSD Lyrinx recordings are some of the finest in the catalogue.


The few Lyrinx recordings I own are all SOTA sound.  Too bad the distribution for the label doesn't seem especially robust.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on March 18, 2017, 12:07:41 PM
Quote from: Todd on March 18, 2017, 11:06:32 AM
Too bad the distribution for the label doesn't seem especially robust.

Yes, +1. It's a label I'd like to know better. For us Stateside though it's a crapshoot.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: snyprrr on February 19, 2018, 10:36:01 AM
bump for new recommends
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on February 21, 2018, 10:55:41 AM
Quote from: snyprrr on February 19, 2018, 10:36:01 AM
bump for new recommends

Have you heard Cassard? When you can download I'll let you have excellent non-commercial transfers of Ericourt. Maybe you'd like to buy the new Pollini Bk 2 and post your impressions.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on March 18, 2018, 06:46:27 PM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on March 09, 2017, 07:07:30 PM
Egorov is awesome, with perhaps the softest touch of any pianist I've heard in the Preludes. But this soft touch isn't borne from a lightweight. On the contrary, he's happy brooding his way through each piece and carving out phrases.

In the end, though, I'm most fond of Kocsis. He's his usual exploratory self, with faster pacing in some pieces than is perhaps the norm, but not a single bar sounds rushed. He's great at manipulating a phrase, or whole sections, to flesh out the contrasts while keeping a solid grip on the whole. The end result is some mighty fine fantasy.


[asin]B000007N5K[/asin]

I'm a year late to this post, but a big YES to Kocsis and really any of his Debussy recordings. That particular recording, which is way OOP and costly if you find a copy (I was fortunate enough to find one for a decent price many weeks ago), is currently my favorite recording of Préludes. Besides Kocsis, I've heard Aimard, Michelangeli, and Planès. Waiting on me to be heard at the moment are Egorov (from the Warner Complete Works set), Jumppanen (Ondine), and Osborne (Hyperion).

Edit: I just bought Paul Jacobs' recording on Nonesuch. Very much looking forward to hearing this one.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes MARTIN JONES COMPLETE FOR $5
Post by: snyprrr on March 19, 2018, 03:37:43 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on February 21, 2018, 10:55:41 AM
Have you heard Cassard? When you can download I'll let you have excellent non-commercial transfers of Ericourt. Maybe you'd like to buy the new Pollini Bk 2 and post your impressions.
omplete Piano Muisc

Well,... I certainly didn'tplan on it, but, as I was shooting for a Debussy Complete Piano Music, and Kocsis was too high, as were most others, the Jones/Nimbus set presented itself to me for $5. Now, I have had his Francaix for a little while, and he's no cookie-cutter slouch,... there's always the Nimbus sound to take into account...

Well, so, I picked the Arabesque No.1 and went through a bunch of Pianists,... and,... Jones really ain't no slouch after all!! I was quite surprised, hereminds me of Beroff, though Beroff seems to have a sharper piano image (just got his Messiaen, absolutely my first choice, maybe even above Osbourne!!).

Well, so, for five I get five cds, with 'Khamma' and the other two pieces...

We'll see how the Nimbus sound effects this particular Cycle... I'm sure many know...


I really am not a Debussian, and wasn't planning this, but, I did notice he doesn't really start until after Liszt is done,... so...

Liszt
Debussy
Messiaen
Xenakis

there! ;)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on March 19, 2018, 04:49:10 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 18, 2018, 06:46:27 PM
I'm a year late to this post, but a big YES to Kocsis and really any of his Debussy recordings. That particular recording, which is way OOP and costly if you find a copy (I was fortunate enough to find one for a decent price many weeks ago), is currently my favorite recording of Préludes. Besides Kocsis, I've heard Aimard, Michelangeli, and Planès. Waiting on me to be heard at the moment are Egorov (from the Warner Complete Works set), Jumppanen (Ondine), and Osborne (Hyperion).

Edit: I just bought Paul Jacobs' recording on Nonesuch. Very much looking forward to hearing this one.

Yeah, I have all of Kocsis' Debussy. Divine all the way. And a big yes to Michelangeli and Egorov. I'd say get Bianconi as well but it looks like you're pretty well stocked on recordings of preludes!

I have Kocsis' Debussy in the set below, which includes the Ravel concertos!



[asin]B000E0LB8Q[/asin]
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on March 19, 2018, 05:17:22 PM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on March 19, 2018, 04:49:10 PM
Yeah, I have all of Kocsis' Debussy. Divine all the way. And a big yes to Michelangeli and Egorov. I'd say get Bianconi as well but it looks like you're pretty well stocked on recordings of preludes!

I have Kocsis' Debussy in the set below, which includes the Ravel concertos!



[asin]B000E0LB8Q[/asin]

Thanks, DD. Yeah, I'd say I've got a few recordings of the Préludes. ;) I was initially going to get that Kocsis Debussy, Ravel set, but it's OOP and very expensive, so I figured I'd go the single issue route and I'm glad I did because I managed to find all of his Debussy recordings for good prices. You and Rafael (ritter) have spoken highly of the Bianconi, so I might consider it for a future purchase.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 05:25:46 AM
I've been browsing this thread and binging on Debussy and the preludes (I have access to quite a few).  They are all so good! And so different from interpretation to interpretation. I ordered the Beroff from Japan (Just had one of the 4 disks--not with the Preludes. After playing it had to have the rest). Just finished listening to Gieseking and started the Michelangeli. I think the Michelangeli is changing my life.  The more he slows down, the more gripping it becomes.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 06:08:51 AM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 05:25:46 AM
I've been browsing this thread and binging on Debussy and the preludes (I have access to quite a few).  They are all so good! And so different from interpretation to interpretation. I ordered the Beroff from Japan (Just had one of the 4 disks--not with the Preludes. After playing it had to have the rest). Just finished listening to Gieseking and started the Michelangeli. I think the Michelangeli is changing my life.  The more he slows down, the more gripping it becomes.

Michelangeli is quite good, but I wouldn't put his performance on the same level as his Images, Series I & II and Children's Corner. I could very well be in the minority with this particular opinion, but that's okay. ;) I enjoy Kocsis and Egorov the most of the ones I've heard. I have Paul Jacobs' coming in the mail and, so far, he's one of my favorite Debussy pianists. Dancing Divertimentian and Rafael (ritter) recommended me the Bianconi, but I haven't pulled the trigger on his recording yet.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 01, 2018, 06:43:34 AM
I first became acquainted with the Preludes through Ciani, and sill have warm feelings for his recordings.

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Cb7i-KlJL.jpg)

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 06:59:40 AM
I'm still trying to wrap my mind around Steven Osborne's Préludes. Not sure if I like/dislike his approach. I've listened through his recording once, but was left conflicted. Anyone else here have the same feeling I have for Osborne?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 04:40:06 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 06:08:51 AM
Michelangeli is quite good, but I wouldn't put his performance on the same level as his Images, Series I & II and Children's Corner. I could very well be in the minority with this particular opinion, but that's okay. ;) I enjoy Kocsis and Egorov the most of the ones I've heard. I have Paul Jacobs' coming in the mail and, so far, he's one of my favorite Debussy pianists. Dancing Divertimentian and Rafael (ritter) recommended me the Bianconi, but I haven't pulled the trigger on his recording yet.

  You probably aren't ;D  Even for me, the latter section wasn't as good as the first few--However, for me, those initial Preludes weren't just good, but as close to transcendentally good as anything I can think of. It reminded me of the 80s, when I would get high and listen to music and just be totally blown away...

    Played the Cortot (disc 11 in the big box).  It is also quite remarkable. He really seems to go his own way, and it certainly seemed that at times he wasn't just interpreting differently but playing some different notes
BTW, Pollini has a Preludes Book II coming out. 
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 04:49:02 PM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 04:40:06 PM
  You probably aren't ;D  Even for me, the latter section wasn't as good as the first few--However, for me, those initial Preludes weren't just good, but as close to transcendentally good as anything I can think of. It reminded me of the 80s, when I would get high and listen to music and just be totally blown away...

    Played the Cortot (disc 11 in the big box).  It is also quite remarkable. He really seems to go his own way, and it certainly seemed that at times he wasn't just interpreting differently but playing some different notes
BTW, Pollini has a Preludes Book II coming out.

Pollini's recording is already out and I'm trying to resist, but resistance seems to be futile when it comes to this composer. I haven't even heard Pollini's recording of Préludes, Book I yet. :-\ But that's okay as I've got so much catching up to do. Cortot is a name I'm not terribly familiar with, but given the dates of his recordings, I probably won't be exploring his Debussy.

What other performances of the Préludes do you own or have heard?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 05:29:49 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 04:49:02 PM
What other performances of the Préludes do you own or have heard?

I have digital copies of the Cassard, Zimerman, jacobs, Bianconi, Livia Rev, Paavali Jumppanen, Cortot, Bavouzet, Thibaudet, Jorg Demus, Roge, and Beroff on EMI, Piemontesi, and Hiroko sasaki, although I haven't played almost any of these.  And not sure when I will...it is morning here in Taiwan, and my binge that lasted all yesterday may be over.  I'm listening to Chopin right now...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 06:45:40 PM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 05:29:07 PM
I have digital copies of the Cassard, Zimerman, jacobs, Bianconi, Livia Rev, Paavali Jumppanen, Cortot, Bavouzet, Thibaudet, Jorg Demus, Roge, and Beroff on EMI, Piemontesi, and Hiroko sasaki, although I haven't played almost any of these.  And not sure when I will...it is morning here in Taiwan, and my binge that lasted all yesterday may be over.  I'm listening to Chopin right now...

Looks like you've got quite a few performances yourself. ;) Of the ones in your list, I didn't care for Zimerman and Bavouzet. The ones in your list I'm most interested in are Jacobs, Bianconi, and Jumppanen.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 06:58:23 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 06:45:40 PM
Looks like you've got quite a few performances yourself. ;) Of the ones in your list, I didn't care for Zimerman and Bavouzet. The ones in your list I'm most interested in are Jacobs, Bianconi, and Jumppanen.

  The Jacobs is very fine. Can't go wrong with that, IMO. Listening to Jumppanen now. My enthusiasm goes up and down--but it might just be a little Preludes fatigue.  My feeling at the moment is that he is better at the passion than the poetry.  The slower, almost minimalist sections that are so haunting in some versions aren't doing much for me coming from the JumpMan...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 07:11:02 PM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 06:58:23 PM
  The Jacobs is very fine. Can't go wrong with that, IMO. Listening to Jumppanen now. My enthusiasm goes up and down--but it might just be a little Preludes fatigue.  My feeling at the moment is that he is better at the passion than the poetry.  The slower, almost minimalist sections that are so haunting in some versions aren't doing much for me coming from the JumpMan...

Judging from Jacobs' recordings of Études and Images, Series I & II, I'm already a huge fan and consider his Debussy some of the finest I've heard so far. I highly recommend Kocsis' Debussy recordings (if you haven't heard them already). He gets the balances just right. You should check out Egorov's Préludes as well, which is quite fine I must say. Dancing Divertimentian and I have very similar tastes when it comes to Debussy, so pretty much his choices mirror my own.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 07:25:41 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 07:11:02 PM
Judging from Jacobs' recordings of Études and Images, Series I & II, I'm already a huge fan and consider his Debussy some of the finest I've heard so far. I highly recommend Kocsis' Debussy recordings (if you haven't heard them already). He gets the balances just right. You should check out Egorov's Préludes as well, which is quite fine I must say. Dancing Divertimentian and I have very similar tastes when it comes to Debussy, so pretty much his choices mirror my own.

  I'm trying to get a copy of the Kocsis right now :(

BTW, I didn't make it to the end of Book II of the Jumppanen. He just wasn't giving me what I wanted, so I switched to Livia Rev, and am really loving it.  She's come as close as I've ever heard to the jazz pianist, Bill Evan's, sound.  She might be the opposite of the Jumppanen--all poetry, little passion (which doesn't, of course, mean little feeling).  I forgot that I also have Haas and Meyer, two more women. I wonder if they sound more like this? Will have to try them...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 07:41:53 PM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 07:25:41 PMI'm trying to get a copy of the Kocsis right now :(

BTW, I didn't make it to the end of Book II of the Jumppanen. He just wasn't giving me what I wanted, so I switched to Livia Rev, and am really loving it.  She's come as close as I've ever heard to the jazz pianist, Bill Evan's, sound.  She might be the opposite of the Jumppanen--all poetry, little passion (which doesn't, of course, mean little feeling).  I forgot that I also have Haas and Meyer, two more women. I wonder if they sound more like this? Will have to try them...

Kocsis' recordings may be difficult to track down. I know his recording of the Préludes (coupled with Children's Corner and some other miniatures) has been reissued, so perhaps you'll be able to get snag a copy of it. North Star (Karlo) mentioned Rev (also, Dancing Divertimentian). Her recordings are quite difficult to get ahold of, especially the Hyperion recordings. I prefer Debussy recordings that have poetry instead of overheated passion as, for me, his piano music is of a subtle nature and seem to flourish with pianists who use a paint brush with the music instead drenching the listener with a gallon of paint. Don't forget to check out Egorov's Debussy. You won't be sorry there! His approach is pure poetry.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 07:51:52 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 07:41:53 PM
Kocsis' recordings may be difficult to track down. I know his recording of the Préludes (coupled with Children's Corner and some other miniatures) has been reissued, so perhaps you'll be able to get snag a copy of it. North Star (Karlo) mentioned Rev (also, Dancing Divertimentian). Her recordings are quite difficult to get ahold of, especially the Hyperion recordings. I prefer Debussy recordings that have poetry instead of overheated passion as, for me, his piano music is of a subtle nature and seem to flourish with pianists who use a paint brush with the music instead drenching the listener with a gallon of paint. Don't forget to check out Egorov's Debussy. You won't be sorry there! His approach is pure poetry.

I'm working on that, too, thanks! Seems he has a 7 disc box set that might be the way to go.  Thanks for the suggestion :)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 07:54:04 PM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 07:51:52 PM
I'm working on that, too, thanks! Seems he has a 7 disc box set that might be the way to go.  Thanks for the suggestion :)

My pleasure.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 08:17:22 PM
Managed to scrounge up a copy of Preludes,Book I from Egorov.  You are absolutely right. Unquestionably top shelf.  The slow, weighty--almost infinite gravitas--approach.  Loving it. Just meant to sample a little and go on to something Non-Debussy, but can't bring myself to turn it off...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 08:27:55 PM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 01, 2018, 08:17:22 PM
Managed to scrounge up a copy of Preludes,Book I from Egorov.  You are absolutely right. Unquestionably top shelf.  The slow, weighty--almost infinite gravitas--approach.  Loving it. Just meant to sample a little and go on to something Non-Debussy, but can't bring myself to turn it off...

Excellent! I figured you'd like his Debussy. 8) Chalk up another fan of Egorov's Debussy on the big board. :)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: GioCar on April 01, 2018, 10:38:43 PM
Quote from: Baron Scarpia on April 01, 2018, 06:43:34 AM
I first became acquainted with the Preludes through Ciani, and sill have warm feelings for his recordings.

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Cb7i-KlJL.jpg)

Yes, Dino Ciani's preludes are still deep in my heart as well.
His approach is quite similar to Egorov's, but his color palette...well, just awesome
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 07, 2018, 01:56:09 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 01, 2018, 06:45:40 PM
Looks like you've got quite a few performances yourself. ;) Of the ones in your list, I didn't care for Zimerman and Bavouzet. The ones in your list I'm most interested in are Jacobs, Bianconi, and Jumppanen.

  It turns out we may part company somewhat here-- I really liked the Zimerman a lot, and--so far at least--haven't gotten excited about Kocsis.  Hopefully another listen will bring me around.

   Right now listening to a performer so far not mentioned in the thread
[asin]B013CPTZAA[/asin]

Terrific command, and the recording quality is also very high.  He also changes tone from prelude to prelude more than some.  I'm having a big glass of sangria as I listen, which admittedly can add a bit of enthusiasm, but there is a lot to like here (Actually, I like almost everything I've ever heard on the Naive label...).

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: ritter on April 07, 2018, 02:12:13 AM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 07, 2018, 01:56:09 AM
...

   Right now listening to a performer so far not mentioned in the thread
[asin]B013CPTZAA[/asin]

Terrific command, and the recording quality is also very high.  He also changes tone from prelude to prelude more than some.  I'm having a big glass of sangria as I listen, which admittedly can add a bit of enthusiasm, but there is a lot to like here (Actually, I like almost everything I've ever heard on the Naive label...).
A wonderful set indeed. I got it when it was first released, and enjoyed it tremendously. Piemontesi is another name to add to the list of distinguished Italian pianists who excel in this music (Michelangeli, Canino, Cascioli...). I really should get Dino Ciani's recording sometime soon... ;)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mr. Minnow on April 08, 2018, 01:30:10 PM
Anyone familiar with this?

(https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/ga/ol/sov90xampolga_600.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Josquin13 on April 08, 2018, 04:30:44 PM
I'm a Debussy nut, so I've heard and collected (way too) many recordings of his Preludes over the decades.

Among older recordings (mono & early analogue), my favorite Debussy Preludes are from Monique Haas on DG, Jacques Fevrier (especially in Book 2), and Marcelle Meyer.  Yvonne Lefebure can be interesting too, in Book 1.  But I'd most like to hear Magda Tagliaferro's 1973 recording of 11 or 12 Preludes, & wish a record label would reissue it!  (I've yet to hear Reine Gianoli in Debussy.)

From the later analogue era, my favorite Preludes recordings are from Claudio Arrau (in the Heritage label remasters, which are a significant improvement over the Philips CDs, sound-wise), Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli in Book 1, Dinu Ciani, and Monique Haas on Erato (mid-1960s).  Samson François and Paul Jacobs can be interesting too.

My favorite Preludes from the digital era are recordings by Jacques Rouvier on Denon, Nelson Friere (Book 1--which I prefer to Michelangeli's), Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (in Book 2--though I prefer Michelangeli's analogue Book 1 & Images Books 1 & 2, which represent his Debussy at its finest, IMO), Philippe Cassard, François Chaplin (especially his Book 2), Michel Dalberto (Book 1), Michel Beroff (on Denon), Livia Rev (on Hyperion), Radu Lupu (live), Catharine Collard, Georges Pludermacher, Hakon Austbo, Gianluca Cascioli, and Philippe Bianconi.  Pianist/scholar Roy Howat can be interesting too, & especially in his writings on the Preludes (if you own Ciani's DG set, take a look at the excellent program notes, which were written by Howat).   On the negative side, I've liked Youri Egorov's Preludes, but am not a huge fan of the overly reverberant acoustic that he was recorded in.  Kocsis and Bavouzet's recordings of the Preludes were disappointments, in otherwise superb Debussy cycles.  While I've found Zimerman's Preludes too intense & hyper concentrated for everyday listening (as he's not a natural or idiomatic Debussy player, IMO).  Finally, I prefer Roge in Satie & Poulenc.

Most recently, I've been exploring the Debussy playing of students of Debussy's friend Marcel Ciampi, and have found pianist Miceal O'Rourke particularly illuminating in Book 1.  I hope that O'Rourke will record a Book 2, as I see him as an underrated Debussy pianist (though some may find his Debussy on the slow side).  Among other Ciampi students, Cecile Ousset tends to strike the keys too hard for my tastes, & I hope Kathryn Stott will record them one day, as the Debussy I've heard from her has been excellent.  Ciampi actually worked with Debussy on the Preludes (as did Marcelle Meyer), and shared his scores with his students, which contained hand written notes by Debussy.  Ciampi's scores are now in the possession of Ousset, who shares them with her students, such as the Swiss pianist Francesco Pietmontesi (mentioned above), who recently recorded the Preludes.   I'd also like to hear another Ciampi student, Jean-Marc Luisada, play Debussy.

In addition, I'd like to hear pianist Zaidee Parkinson in Book 2, who critic Jed Distler has written favorably about.  Plus, I'd like to see a commercially released recording of the Preludes from Radu Lupu, who is one of the most fascinating & individualistic Debussy pianists today.  Roland Pontinen has recently recorded the Preludes too, & I expect his Preludes are well worth hearing.

Lately, I've been thoroughly enjoying Nino Gvetadze's excellent Preludes Book 1.

Stany David Lasry's period recordings are in the mail...

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on April 08, 2018, 05:00:48 PM
Great post, Josquin!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 08, 2018, 07:34:33 PM
Quote from: George on April 08, 2018, 05:00:48 PM
Great post, Josquin!

+1

Although, unlike Josquin, I love everything Kocsis did in Debussy. I haven't really heard enough Bavouzet to give a definite 'yes' or 'no', although when I did sample some of his cycle, I was a bit disappointed by the audio quality. But, if I can pick up his set for a good price, I'll jump on it. I missed the opportunity several weeks ago.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on April 08, 2018, 07:50:05 PM
Quote from: Josquin13 on April 08, 2018, 04:30:44 PMOn the negative side, I've liked Youri Egorov's Preludes, but am not a huge fan of the overly reverberant acoustic that he was recorded in.

Nothing echo-y that I can hear in Egorov, and I'm picky about echo-y-ness.

QuoteKocsis and Bavouzet's recordings of the Preludes were disappointments,

Don't know Bavouzet, but Kocsis is far far far far far far far from a disappointment in my book.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 08, 2018, 08:19:32 PM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on April 08, 2018, 07:50:05 PM
Nothing echo-y that I can hear in Egorov, and I'm picky about echo-y-ness.

Don't know Bavouzet, but Kocsis is far far far far far far far from a disappointment in my book.

I can only nod my head in agreement. 8)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on April 09, 2018, 06:00:48 AM
Quote from: Mr. Minnow on April 08, 2018, 01:30:10 PM
Anyone familiar with this?

(https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/ga/ol/sov90xampolga_600.jpg)

No, but am very interested. I am a huge fan of the Arcana label.  I was surprised to see the recording date is 1995! It's definitely been flying under the radar.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on April 09, 2018, 06:43:51 AM
Quote from: Mookalafalas on April 09, 2018, 06:00:48 AM
No, but am very interested. I am a huge fan of the Arcana label.  I was surprised to see the recording date is 1995! It's definitely been flying under the radar.

Under the radar indeed. Not even RMCR has any discussion on that set.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 09, 2018, 08:29:40 AM
I'm increasingly finding the Preludes to be a work for which I enjoy different things in different recordings, without really being able to say that I like any one option better than the other.

I have been listening to a few recordings of Book I. I started with Werner Haas, but stopped when I found that some passages had very audible distortion (sounded like tape saturation in the original recording, could be a remastering error, I guess). I then listened to Thibaudet of Decca, which I think of as one of my favorites, and which I enjoyed for clarity, although the recording was a bit lacking in bass richness. Then Aimard, which was on the opposite side of the spectrum. A lot more reverberation and a rich depiction of the bass registers, which tended to make the preludes which emphasize color very satisfying, but those that emphasize clever articulation less impressive. Then I listened to Monique Haas on Erato, which was beautifully atmospheric with audio that on the less reverberant side. However, in the demanding passages I had the impression that her articulation was not entirely immaculate.

Maybe it's time to listen to Book II.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Josquin13 on April 09, 2018, 08:30:53 AM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on April 08, 2018, 07:50:05 PM
Nothing echo-y that I can hear in Egorov, and I'm picky about echo-y-ness.

Don't know Bavouzet, but Kocsis is far far far far far far far from a disappointment in my book.

Yes, I've known others that have liked Kocsis' set of Debussy Preludes immensely, but when those recordings came out they were heavily criticized, even by the British rags (the Penquin Guide gave the set a particularly damning review, & Bryce Morrison at Gramophone was lukewarm on it), who normally raved about Kocsis in Debussy (as do I), having given his other Debussy recordings year-end accolades & "Rosette" awards.  The sound quality of the initial Philips issue was also criticized for not being up to the usual high standards of Kocsis' previous Debussy recordings on Philips, and on this I was in full agreement (though perhaps the sound has been improved on subsequent reissues).  However, Kocsis was a great pianist, so I'm not saying that there aren't interesting ideas or fine playing in evidence, of course, there is.  Here's the Gramophone review (unfortunately, I can't find the Penquin review):

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/debussy-pr%C3%A9ludes-bks-1-2-childrens-corner

As for Egorov's Preludes, he uses the pedal a bit heavily at times, and the notes seem to reverberate & overlap a little more than is normally the case on certain other recordings, such as with Francois, Lefebure, Arrau, Meyer, Rouvier, Tomsic, or Freire, for example.  I concluded that he was playing in a fairly reverberant space.  But it may just be that he's a tad heavy on the pedal in certain Preludes, at times.  Have a listen to Egorov's "Danseuses de Delphes" and listen to how previously struck notes tend to linger longer than is usual--I'm not always a huge fan of this, but maybe I'm being overly sensitive & unfair (as Egorov is hardly the only pianist that uses the pedal freely in Debussy, & it certainly can work & is necessary at times):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2oXelHJCZo

Now here's Samson François playing the same Prelude (more in the Cortot vein).  François seems lighter and a bit more judicious with the pedal, and not quite as 'impressionist' in effect (though it may partly be the different acoustic as well):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZXOVD3vCck

For me, Bavouzet's Preludes were surprisingly a mixed bag, after his fine Ravel.  But I may be in the minority here.

Thanks, George.  It was my pleasure.

P.S. For the sake of comparison, here are some additional pianists in "Danseuses de Delphe":

Arrau:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BzR0gWyO18
Rouvier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L0o_7WQX30
Tomsic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-qmwakVFOg
Lefebure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoeSOEtSgi0
Meyer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWh03aPkJnE
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Jo498 on April 09, 2018, 11:19:02 AM
Besides Lasry, Van Immerseel has also one disc (Preludes I + fillers) on a period instrument:

[asin]B000003UYA[/asin]
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: North Star on April 09, 2018, 11:22:59 AM
Quote from: Jo498 on April 09, 2018, 11:19:02 AM
Besides Lasry, Van Immerseel has also one disc (Preludes I + fillers) on a period instrument:

[asin]B000003UYA[/asin]
And two discs of Cassard's set are on played on a Bechstein (Suite Bergamasque, Pour le piano, Children's Corner, Etudes, and smaller pieces)
[asin]B006MYKZ6M[/asin]
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 09, 2018, 01:45:26 PM
Quote from: North Star on April 09, 2018, 11:22:59 AM
And two discs of Cassard's set are on played on a Bechstein (Suite Bergamasque, Pour le piano, Children's Corner, Etudes, and smaller pieces)
[asin]B006MYKZ6M[/asin]


So what are the other things in the set played on? I thought he used Debussy's piano for all of them.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: North Star on April 09, 2018, 02:11:08 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on April 09, 2018, 01:45:26 PM

So what are the other things in the set played on? I thought he used Debussy's piano for all of them.
I should have said that at least those recordings are made using the Bechstein. There are some recordings in the set on a Steinway model D from 2009, but looking at the dates, only the recordings of two short pieces are from after the piano was made, so it is indeed practically completely on the Bechstein.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on April 09, 2018, 04:18:14 PM
Quote from: Josquin13 on April 09, 2018, 08:30:53 AM
Yes, I've known others that have liked Kocsis' set of Debussy Preludes immensely, but when those recordings came out they were heavily criticized, even by the British rags (the Penquin Guide gave the set a particularly damning review, & Bryce Morrison at Gramophone was lukewarm on it), who normally raved about Kocsis in Debussy (as do I), having given his other Debussy recordings year-end accolades & "Rosette" awards.  The sound quality of the initial Philips issue was also criticized for not being up to the usual high standards of Kocsis' previous Debussy recordings on Philips, and on this I was in full agreement (though perhaps the sound has been improved on subsequent reissues).  However, Kocsis was a great pianist, so I'm not saying that there aren't interesting ideas or fine playing in evidence, of course, there is.  Here's the Gramophone review (unfortunately, I can't find the Penquin review):

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/debussy-pr%C3%A9ludes-bks-1-2-childrens-corner

Count me amongst the chorus of "others that have liked Kocsis' set of Debussy preludes immensely". The rags be hanged. ;)

QuoteAs for Egorov's Preludes, he uses the pedal a bit heavily at times, and the notes seem to reverberate & overlap a little more than is normally the case on certain other recordings, such as with Francois, Lefebure, Arrau, Meyer, Rouvier, Tomsic, or Freire, for example.  I concluded that he was playing in a fairly reverberant space.  But it may just be that he's a tad heavy on the pedal in certain Preludes, at times.  Have a listen to Egorov's "Danseuses de Delphes" and listen to how previously struck notes tend to linger longer than is usual--I'm not always a huge fan of this, but maybe I'm being overly sensitive & unfair (as Egorov is hardly the only pianist that uses the pedal freely in Debussy, & it certainly can work & is necessary at times):

Mere niggles, and hardly deal-breakers for me. 
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 09, 2018, 04:19:42 PM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on April 09, 2018, 04:18:14 PM
Count me amongst the chorus of "others that have liked Kocsis' set of Debussy preludes immensely". The rags be hanged. ;)

Mere niggles, and hardly deal-breakers for me.

Can only nod in agreement to both responses here, DD. :)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 09, 2018, 04:21:28 PM
I can only say WOW to Paul Jacobs' Préludes! As with all of his Debussy, it's magnificent.

So far, Jacobs, Kocsis, and Egorov seem to be the ones I'm most attracted to. Others I've heard that are in my collection that I didn't like (or like as good as the afore mentioned favorites): Aimard, Jumppanen, Planès, and Michelangeli.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Daverz on April 09, 2018, 07:46:36 PM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51uCQK-wzfL._SS500.jpg)

Recording of Book II that was flogged pretty heavily in Fanfare last year.  Streaming at

https://www.amazon.com/Reverie-Amy-Gustafson/dp/B072BCXLXB/ref=sr_1_1_twi_mus_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1523331676&sr=1-1&keywords=Gustafson+reverie

Impressive sonics.

Quote from: Jerry Dubins[...] she is a believer in the strong rhythmic impulses that lie at the heart of these pieces. Consequently, we don't get the aural impression of music floating anchorless on undulating waves, as we not infrequently do with other players who take Debussy's written notes to represent a vague outline of what he wanted. Gustafson's Debussy is forceful and masculine, so much so that at first I was a bit taken aback. She doesn't shy away from the top range of the dynamic scale or the sharp, percussive accent—listen, for example, to her opening statements in "La Puerto del Vino" and "Général Lavine-excentric," the third and sixth numbers, respectively, in the Préludes, Book II—but underlying everything she does is a rhythmic instinct for what shapes the music and gives it life.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 09, 2018, 08:59:22 PM
Quote from: Josquin13 on April 08, 2018, 04:30:44 PM
I'm a Debussy nut, so I've heard and collected (way too) many recordings of his Preludes over the decades.



From the later analogue era, my favorite Preludes recordings are from Claudio Arrau



I find what he does in the preludes fascinating. It's like an exploration, I want to say a free exploration, but that may be inaccurate, of sounds and textures and rhythms.

I hope you heard the recording released a couple of years ago with Images and Estampes from a 1949 Columbia LP where, even as way back as that, you can hear the germs of his mature abstract style.

Oh and by the way, did you notice I found a lossless download of Walter Testolin's Circumdederunt Me? You need to find a way to get it. You will like it.

Let me know if you want me to dig up links to these recordings.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes MARTIN JONES
Post by: snyprrr on April 10, 2018, 06:12:28 AM
Well, I've just been listening to Debussy Piano Music for the FIRST TIME EVER! I got the Martin Jones set for real cheap, but it arrived missing the last two discs and no booklet,... so, eithe rway, most of it's there, so let's dig in.

First off, I seemed to like the Preludes least of what I heard...


I really couldn't say word one about Debussy Piano Music, so, I figured, let's go to the 'Nocturne' and 'Ballade' to see what's up. Well, I liked those two greatly. The "uppity" pieces 'Danse bohemienne' and 'Mazurka', not so much. 'Reverie', in the same vein as the first two...

'Masques'??? what is up with this piece?Jones played it so strange that I punched up Gieseking, and he sounded bizarre too, I guess it's just strange music?


THE ONE PIECE THAT BLEW MY MIND was 'The Snow is Dancing' from the 'Children's Corner'. WOW, well, THERE is standard Minimalism, I just couldn't believe it. Sounded like the music from 'Logan's Run' or 'The Exorcist'...




Anything I've heard now of Debussy that is "dreamy", I like. The uppity bits not so much...




AS FAR AS MARTIN JONES is concerned, he seems to play very well, and the reviews seem to agree he's no slouch or hazy smooshy nostalgic. The main issue anyone might have here is of course the Nimbus sound, which may not be to taste. I think it worked great on 'Nocturne' and 'Ballade', giving a "gothic" feel, but in other places it sounds too "dancehall" and distant.

Given the druthers, I would probably go for the Kocsis set and be done with it. I am following this Thread closely...

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 10, 2018, 06:14:44 AM
Couldn't resist the temptation to listen another set of Preludes, Book I, this time Samson Francois. Really fine. Francois' thing is not immaculate technique, but the ability to create a sense of controlled turbulence. There are passages where he pulls off something really special.

The EMI France recording from 1971 is pleasant to listen to. Some tape hiss, but not too distracting and a beautiful palette of colors from the piano.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 10, 2018, 06:53:54 AM
Quote from: Josquin13 on April 08, 2018, 04:30:44 PM
Roland Pontinen has recently recorded the Preludes too, & I expect his Preludes are well worth hearing.




Has this been released? 

There's a selection of preludes by Michelangeli from the Vatican in 1977 on Aura which seems totally wonderful to me.  I like Freire but I prefer ABM here.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: aukhawk on April 10, 2018, 09:45:49 AM
Quote from: Jo498 on April 09, 2018, 11:19:02 AM
Besides Lasry, Van Immerseel has also one disc (Preludes I + fillers) on a period instrument:

A shout for Hiroko Sasaki - described upthread by Todd here (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,8773.msg850801.html#msg850801)

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71JJGmxQHHL._SX425_.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 11, 2018, 08:48:35 AM
Graduated to Book II, started with Monique Haas' Erato set, which ended with a letdown (clumsy edits in the last prelude in the set, Fireworks). Quite good, overall. Will follow up tonight with another set, not sure which, maybe Thibaudet or Aimard. Maybe I will return to Dino Ciani. I also recalled that I have the complete Debussy set from Fergis-Thompson on ASV (now re-issued on Brilliant, I think). I really enjoyed that set when I listened to it, years ago. Maybe time to bring it out again. Too many choices...

Decided to spring for the Lasry set, partly due to attraction to the idea of a period piano. Also considered Cassard, re-issued on Decca, but was not attracted to samples I heard on-line.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 11, 2018, 02:33:03 PM
Based on samples, the Livia Rev set seems beautiful.  Comments?

(https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/thumbs_550/034571140612.png)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 11, 2018, 07:26:05 PM
Quote from: Baron Scarpia on April 11, 2018, 02:33:03 PM
Based on samples, the Livia Rev set seems beautiful.  Comments?

(https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/thumbs_550/034571140612.png)

I know Dancing Divertimentian really likes the Rev set, but I can't comment on it as I haven't heard any of her performances.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Daverz on April 11, 2018, 08:22:03 PM
I assume part of the interest in Livia Rev is that she died recently.  Her dates were impressive, 5 July 1916 – 28 March 2018.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 11, 2018, 08:27:16 PM
Quote from: Daverz on April 11, 2018, 08:22:03 PM
I assume part of the interest in Livia Rev is that she died recently.  Her dates were impressive, 5 July 1916 – 28 March 2018.

This could very well be the case. I never heard of her until I heard Karlo (North Star) talk about her and then Dancing Divertimentian mentioned her as well.

On another subject, I do know one thing that is for sure: I couldn't be without Jacobs and Kocsis in Debussy. 8)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 11, 2018, 08:59:56 PM
Quote from: Baron Scarpia on April 11, 2018, 02:33:03 PM
Based on samples, the Livia Rev [hyperion]  set seems beautiful.  Comments?

It makes me think of spiders' webs with dew, gossamer light and fragile, colourful sound and natural phrasing.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 11, 2018, 09:01:09 PM
Quote from: Daverz on April 11, 2018, 08:22:03 PM
I assume part of the interest in Livia Rev is that she died recently.  Her dates were impressive, 5 July 1916 – 28 March 2018.

No, I was not aware of that, I just came across the set while browsing Hyperion's web site and listened to a few samples, which I found interesting.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: amw on April 11, 2018, 09:04:13 PM
Has anyone compared Livia Rev's set on Hyperion with her earlier one on SAGA?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 11, 2018, 09:44:00 PM
In the Preludes Book 1, in the Hyperion she gives the impression of indulging more in the resonances of the piano sound, in the Saga things move forward. Hyperion captured the piano sound really well. I can send you some of the Saga Debussy if you want, I have Preludes I and Etudes. I have a friend who's a pianist who knew her, he moved in her milieu when she was in London in the 1960s, he rates the Saga material very highly, he thinks that at her best she was the equal of Moiseiwitsch and Michelangeli. I'm just not enough of a pianophile to agree or disagree.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 11, 2018, 10:23:44 PM
For what it's worth, just got the Livia Rev Debussy set as a lossless download from the Hyperion web site.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: amw on April 11, 2018, 10:27:38 PM
I have the complete Saga set somewhere, in digital form, but haven't listened to most of it due to a severe lack of interest in Debussy in recent months. I rate her pretty highly but wouldn't necessarily make those specific comparisons, though I can see what he means.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: zamyrabyrd on April 12, 2018, 04:33:29 AM
Thanks for the heads-up on Lívia Rév, what a nice discovery! (I know these are not preludes, but they show her Debussy style. She plays Chopin beautifully, too.)

https://www.youtube.com/v/U5B26aCe-Vw

https://www.youtube.com/v/R8102N0z0Co
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Karl Henning on April 12, 2018, 04:51:06 AM
Chopin and Debussy have subtle synergies.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: North Star on April 12, 2018, 06:18:37 AM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on April 12, 2018, 04:51:06 AM
Chopin and Debussy have subtle synergies.

Indeed... quoth Madame de Fleurville, who was Debussy's piano teacher: "If we draw a parallel between Chopin's sound effects and certain techniques of painting, we could say that this great virtuoso modulated sound much as skilled painters treat light and atmosphere. To envelop melodic phrases and ingenious arabesques in a half-tint which has something of both dream and reality: this is the pinnacle of art; and this was Chopin's art." (1878)


Marguerite Long's memoirs of her work with Debussy 1914 & '17: "Chopin, above all, was a subject he never tired of. He was impregnated, almost inhabited, by [Chopin's] pianism. His own playing was an exploration of all he felt were the procedures of that master to us all.     [Debussy] played nearly always in half-tints, but with full, intense sonority without any hardness of attack, like Chopin, and was preoccupied by the latter's phrasing . . .
'Chopin is the greatest of them all', [Debussy] used to say, 'for through the piano alone he discovered everything'.

And Debussy was planning to edit a new complete edition of Chopin before he died.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 12, 2018, 06:57:37 AM
I think that the Reflets dans l'eau from Rev is nice  -- it's the one on Hyperion -- I don't know if she recorded it for Saga  -- the thing I've been told is really special by hear -- I have the recording but I've never played it -- is Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: North Star on April 12, 2018, 07:02:20 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on April 12, 2018, 06:57:37 AM
I think that the Reflets dans l'eau from Rev is nice  -- it's the one on Hyperion -- I don't know if she recorded it for Saga
She recorded the complete works on Saga.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: snyprrr on April 12, 2018, 11:45:09 AM
Where is the Rest of Debussy's Piano Music Thread? I must admit I enjoyed the Preludes the least of all his PM up to that point. I mean,... I'm just enjoying hearing the Ballade and Nocturne for the first time ever, and the Images2, and the first two discs in any five disc survey,The Early Works.


The more I listen to this Martin Jones Nimbus set the less the Nimbus sound bothers me...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dancing Divertimentian on April 12, 2018, 03:51:29 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 11, 2018, 08:27:16 PM
This could very well be the case. I never heard of her until I heard Karlo (North Star) talk about her and then Dancing Divertimentian mentioned her as well.

I have one disc from Rev's Hyperion set (Preludes II and Images II). How she manages to play these works so "straight" yet keep the engagement level so high has always been a mystery to me. I can't stop listening to her whenever I put her on, but admittedly I probably reach for others first.

Quote from: amw on April 11, 2018, 09:04:13 PM
Has anyone compared Livia Rev's set on Hyperion with her earlier one on SAGA?

I have Rev's Saga set. It's similar in approach to her Hyperion near-set but with a touch more vivacity (it's a decade earlier), although the recorded sound isn't quite as good. I'm probably most fond of her Études. They seem to fit her "straight-ahead" style superbly.



[asin]B001B9W3FO[/asin]
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 13, 2018, 01:10:41 AM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on April 12, 2018, 03:51:29 PM



[asin]B001B9W3FO[/asin]

I got all excited because it looks as though it's downloadable, but when you click on the link it's for some Liszt!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: North Star on April 13, 2018, 01:18:18 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on April 13, 2018, 01:10:41 AM
I got all excited because it looks as though it's downloadable, but when you click on the link it's for some Liszt!
It should still be on Symphonyshare.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: aukhawk on April 13, 2018, 01:44:36 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on April 12, 2018, 06:57:37 AM
I think that the Reflets dans l'eau from Rev is nice  -- it's the one on Hyperion -- I don't know if she recorded it for Saga  --

I offer you here (for a few days only) Livia Rev playing Reflets from the Saga recording. First half only.

[clip now removed]
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on April 13, 2018, 04:25:21 AM
Quote from: North Star on April 13, 2018, 01:18:18 AM
It should still be on Symphonyshare.

Quote from: aukhawk on April 13, 2018, 01:44:36 AM
I offer you here (for a few days only) Livia Rev playing Reflets from the Saga recording. First half only.

[audio]http://www.mediafire.com/file/sgv5b7jgqsswl5r/Reflets.mp3[/audio]  Reflets (http://www.mediafire.com/file/sgv5b7jgqsswl5r/Reflets.mp3)

Thanks to both of you. I hadn't noticed that upload on symphonyshare so there's a lot for me to explore there. I remember being in a discussion with some people about the relative merits of Reflets dans l'eau as played by Rev and Michelangeli, and the real piano connoisseurs were adamant that Rev on Saga was "THE BEST"
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on April 13, 2018, 07:51:19 AM
Listened to Preludes Book II by Aimard on DG.

A worthy effort, the recording, as I mentioned somewhere above, is from a rather distant perspective with generous reverberation.

There are some brilliant bits here, such as fireworks, but I find myself more drawn to the preludes which are playful and lively, and the distant perspective tends to blur the articulation in these pieces. I seem to be gravitating towards the less dreamy interpretations of this music, and Monique Haas and Thibaudet are working better for me now.

I have other versions to explore, but time to listen to something else, as I am experience prelude fatigue. :)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 13, 2018, 08:03:32 AM
Quote from: Baron Scarpia on April 13, 2018, 07:51:19 AM
Listened to Preludes Book II by Aimard on DG.

A worthy effort, the recording, as I mentioned somewhere above, is from a rather distant perspective with generous reverberation.

There are some brilliant bits here, such as fireworks, but I find myself more drawn to the preludes which are playful and lively, and the distant perspective tends to blur the articulation in these pieces. I seem to be gravitating towards the less dreamy interpretations of this music, and Monique Haas and Thibaudet are working better for me now.

I have other versions to explore, but time to listen to something else, as I am experience prelude fatigue. :)

You should listen to Jacobs' recording (if you haven't already). Kocsis, too, for that matter.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: snyprrr on April 13, 2018, 02:09:58 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 13, 2018, 08:03:32 AM
You should listen to Jacobs' recording (if you haven't already). Kocsis, too, for that matter.

broken record alert!!




lol, just teasin ya ;)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on April 15, 2018, 06:11:49 AM
Quote from: snyprrr on April 13, 2018, 02:09:58 PM
broken record alert!!




lol, just teasin ya ;)

:P It's true though! I'm starting to sound like one indeed.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: snyprrr on May 01, 2018, 07:21:27 AM
Gulda 2018 :laugh:
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 04, 2018, 05:08:46 AM
I listened this afternoon to Cortot's first recording of the preludes. I have a perfectly listenable transfer, on the Seon label, more than listenable, a pleasure to listen to.

I have to say that it's very good, performance wise.

It's fast. These things work well fast I'd say. They cohere.

Cortot makes them sound interesting harmonically and impressionisticlly. The near dissonances that Cortot reveals or creates are really very memorable, listen, for example, to the wind on the plain.

We have a bunch of musical picture postcards, the way Cortot plays them. Not romantic landscapes, thank gawd.

But what I like most is the energy of Cortot's vision. In Cortot's hands it's not music to squirm in your armchair to, while crying "oh how beautiful." It's music to dance to. Maybe an African tribal traditional dance to boot.

There's nothing hammerless about Cortot, all that talk about hammerlessness being a criterion of success in Debussy preludes is not the best way to see things. The west wind hammers - everyone knows that who's experienced it.

Cortot was what Cortot was, and so the next sentence is probably stupid. Who else plays Debussy preludes like Cortot? Or maybe better, if I like a Cortot and want more in that way, who else to listen to?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on May 04, 2018, 08:13:42 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 04, 2018, 05:08:46 AM
I listened this afternoon to Cortot's first recording of the preludes. I have a perfectly listenable transfer, on the Seon label, more than listenable, a pleasure to listen to.

I have to say that it's very good, performance wise.

It's fast. These things work well fast I'd say. They cohere.

Cortot makes them sound interesting harmonically and impressionisticlly. The near dissonances that Cortot reveals or creates are really very memorable, listen, for example, to the wind on the plain.

We have a bunch of musical picture postcards, the way Cortot plays them. Not romantic landscapes, thank gawd.

But what I like most is the energy of Cortot's vision. In Cortot's hands it's not music to squirm in your armchair to, while crying "oh how beautiful." It's music to dance to. Maybe an African tribal traditional dance to boot.

There's nothing hammerless about Cortot, all that talk about hammerlessness being a criterion of success in Debussy preludes is not the best way to see things. The west wind hammers - everyone knows that who's experienced it.

Cortot was what Cortot was, and so the next sentence is probably stupid. Who else plays Debussy preludes like Cortot? Or maybe better, if I like a Cortot and want more in that way, who else to listen to?

I don't see any indication that he recorded Book II of the preludes. Book I was recorded in 1930 and 1949.

https://web.archive.org/web/20090805113108/http://www.arbiterrecords.com/musicresourcecenter/cortdisc.html

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: snyprrr on May 04, 2018, 08:21:09 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 15, 2018, 06:11:49 AM
:P It's true though! I'm starting to sound like one indeed.

I listened to some of the 'Images' Paul Jacobs disc,... maybe it was 'Estampes', I can't remember, but, well,... here's My Disclaimer:

when it comes to Nonesuch and Jacobs/Rosen/Kalish, the way the Nonesuch sound is always ... mm... "friendly"?? (dryish, soft, and pleasing, even in the most brutal Avant)... and the fact that I blur those three Pianists in my mind... I just came away with the "oh, this is Nonesuch Debussy"...

however, some Reviewers noted Jacobs's playing was "Moderne", as in 'non-idiomatic', which I certainly didn't really pick up on- the typical Nonesuch presentational sound is what I recall most...

huh. :-\

Just listening to Kocsis 'Pagodes' (I'm using Pagodes and going through Roge, JYT, Kocsis, Wissenberg, Jacobs, Gieseking, Samson, etc,... )... I just want a tiny bit more 'verb, bu :-\ , of course, I've always enjoyed the Kocsis/Debussy. I DID have that CD in 1993!!... always impressed with the Philips sound there, that may be why I'm on a piano tear right now??!!?

per 'Pagodes'- seriously everyone, there seems so little to choose from in this piece from performer to performer, that SOUND and ambience seem to become the main concerns for me. When the high notes indicate the top of the Pagoda, I want to hear enough "space" in those tinkles, without having the bass drowned in ambience. Sure, the player can balance the registers, BUT, come on, every millisecond counts here!!!

I know Roge is usually quite "recessed", but, mm, maybe I'm just responding to that typical Decca piano sound of the time. The only Debussy PM I have right now is half the Martin Jones/Nimbus set, and, for some things, it's just a TAB swampy. In the 'Nocturne' and 'Ballade', I like the swamp!!...makes it sound like 'Interviewwith A Vampire'...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 04, 2018, 10:02:00 AM
Quote from: Baron Scarpia on May 04, 2018, 08:13:42 AM
I don't see any indication that he recorded Book II of the preludes. Book I was recorded in 1930 and 1949.

https://web.archive.org/web/20090805113108/http://www.arbiterrecords.com/musicresourcecenter/cortdisc.html

Yes, that's right. His earliest Debussy preludes recording goes back to 1919 and he published a book on Debussy in 1922. I've not read it but I have read a doctoral thesis which discussed it, I recall that he justifies his interpretation partly on the basis of his acquaintance with Debussy's personality, even though his style differs substantially from Debussy's own performances on piano rolls. It's a potentially interesting area to explore and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing the book - but I have other musical priorities right now.

I have no idea what his opinion was about Bk 2, for all I know he may never have performed it.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on May 04, 2018, 10:09:29 AM
You listened to the 1919 recordings? What release? I haven't come across it.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 04, 2018, 10:16:12 AM
Quote from: Baron Scarpia on May 04, 2018, 10:09:29 AM
You listened to the 1919 recordings? What release? I haven't come across it.

No. The best discography for Cortot is here

http://lee.classite.com/music/Cortot/discography-cortot.htm#Debussy
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on May 04, 2018, 10:19:45 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 04, 2018, 10:16:12 AM
No. The best discography for Cortot is here

http://lee.classite.com/music/Cortot/discography-cortot.htm#Debussy

I see. I'll make a note to listen to the 1930 recording. May be some time, I'm sort of burned out on them.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Daverz on May 04, 2018, 01:18:43 PM
Rave review at MusicWeb for an early '50s recording by a pianist I've never heard of before, Hans Henkemans:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/May/Debussy_Henkemans_4829490.htm

It's also on the streaming services.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Draško on May 05, 2018, 05:36:53 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 04, 2018, 05:08:46 AM
I listened this afternoon to Cortot's first recording of the preludes. I have a perfectly listenable transfer, on the Seon label, more than listenable, a pleasure to listen to.

I have to say that it's very good, performance wise.

It's fast. These things work well fast I'd say. They cohere.

Cortot makes them sound interesting harmonically and impressionisticlly. The near dissonances that Cortot reveals or creates are really very memorable, listen, for example, to the wind on the plain.

We have a bunch of musical picture postcards, the way Cortot plays them. Not romantic landscapes, thank gawd.

But what I like most is the energy of Cortot's vision. In Cortot's hands it's not music to squirm in your armchair to, while crying "oh how beautiful." It's music to dance to. Maybe an African tribal traditional dance to boot.

There's nothing hammerless about Cortot, all that talk about hammerlessness being a criterion of success in Debussy preludes is not the best way to see things. The west wind hammers - everyone knows that who's experienced it.

Cortot was what Cortot was, and so the next sentence is probably stupid. Who else plays Debussy preludes like Cortot? Or maybe better, if I like a Cortot and want more in that way, who else to listen to?

Francois, Meyer and Pollini are closest in what you are looking for, I think, though of course different from Cortot and one another in many respects, maybe Aimard here and there (I find him inconsistent), Michelangeli shares some traits but not all, Jacobs and Rouvier are more middle of the road but don't abuse the pedal too much.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 05, 2018, 09:36:10 PM
Quote from: Draško on May 05, 2018, 05:36:53 AM
Francois, Meyer and Pollini are closest in what you are looking for, I think, though of course different from Cortot and one another in many respects, maybe Aimard here and there (I find him inconsistent), Michelangeli shares some traits but not all, Jacobs and Rouvier are more middle of the road but don't abuse the pedal too much.

I have a recording of Bk 2 which Pollini made in 1974, a concert in Amsterdam, it's really very special, modern and abstract, fast and dissonant, incandescent,  and rather different from what he released last (this?) year on DG.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Draško on May 06, 2018, 02:46:00 AM
That sounds very interesting. I quite like his recent book II on DG.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on May 06, 2018, 11:22:21 AM
Quote from: Daverz on May 04, 2018, 01:18:43 PM
Rave review at MusicWeb for an early '50s recording by a pianist I've never heard of before, Hans Henkemans:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/May/Debussy_Henkemans_4829490.htm

It's also on the streaming services.

The problem with this set, or from what I have sampled, is the audio quality isn't too good. Basically, it obscures the finer details and nuances that should be audibly present. So, it's not a set I'll buy, but if one isn't worried about the sound, then the playing did sound rather good.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mirror Image on May 06, 2018, 11:37:29 AM
Quote from: snyprrr on May 04, 2018, 08:21:09 AMThe only Debussy PM I have right now is half the Martin Jones/Nimbus set, and, for some things, it's just a TAB swampy. In the 'Nocturne' and 'Ballade', I like the swamp!!...makes it sound like 'Interviewwith A Vampire'...

Martin Jones' set isn't even in the lower echelon of great Debussyians for me. He's never been a pianist I've flocked to anyway. When you have pianists like Jacobs, Kocsis, Michelangeli, Bavouzet, Blechacz, Egorov, Cassard, among others, why in the world would I even want to hear any more of Jones' traversal of Debussy? Then there's the Nimbus sound --- oh vey.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes: Hakon Austbo, If You Haven't Tried...
Post by: snyprrr on May 12, 2018, 06:03:49 PM
I have just discovered Hakon Austbo's Simax Debussy. :-* :-* :-* Sound+Performance... as a Standard Issue, this works out-of-the-box for me...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Baron Scarpia on May 13, 2018, 05:18:37 PM
I've come off my Debussy Preludes burn out and spot listened to a few pieces to reaffirm earlier impressions. Monique Haas on Erato, which I was trying to convince myself I likes, I admit I don't like, at least in the Preludes. But for a brisk, unsentimental version, Thibaudet is superb. For Poetic/spiritual, Arrau.  Must go back to Samson Francois. And must listen to Pollini.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 14, 2018, 12:36:01 AM
I found an unusual and interesting one recently which people who like Michelangeli's accuracy, timbre and coolth may care to try, it's on spotify. Bruno Canino. It made me wonder whether there really is an Italian style in post war piano playing.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: snyprrr on May 14, 2018, 08:30:04 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on May 06, 2018, 11:37:29 AM
Martin Jones' set isn't even in the lower echelon of great Debussyians for me. He's never been a pianist I've flocked to anyway. When you have pianists like Jacobs, Kocsis, Michelangeli, Bavouzet, Blechacz, Egorov, Cassard, among others, why in the world would I even want to hear any more of Jones' traversal of Debussy? Then there's the Nimbus sound --- oh vey.

No, of course I agree, it was an accident. However, he's pretty straightforward in his interpretations, so I could at least hear things somewhat MOR, and he's pretty good with rhythmic outburst/"puckish" bits,... but, yea, he's by no means Transcendental, as I said, it was an accident :-\

Stanislaw Bunin (DG)
Alexis Weissenberg (DG)

These two recitals represent what blows me away in Debussy Piano Playing. I know the latter is controversial, but I was blown away by 'The Snow Is Falling'.

Austbo Vols. 2-3 (Simax)
Kocsis 'Images' CD (Philips)
Beroff 3CD (EMI)
Crossley (SONY)... along with Roge/JYT, so-so,...

And these are the ones I'm coming back to most often for compares. Thankfully, most all Debussy PM recordings are on YT, to make any FinalPurchaseDecision a correct and lasting one!! Can't AFFORD to get into a Debussy War with my pocketbook, and don't want to, either.

I'm getting a little bit better handle on how to look at Debussy, the Piano Master. Who is his heir? Or, is his influence so absorbed by ALL, that finding it is ubiquitous?

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Draško on May 14, 2018, 03:36:28 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 14, 2018, 12:36:01 AM
I found an unusual and interesting one recently which people who like Michelangeli's accuracy, timbre and coolth may care to try, it's on spotify. Bruno Canino. It made me wonder whether there really is an Italian style in post war piano playing.

That is an interesting question. I certainly can hear some similarities in Italian pianists I'm familiar with, like  Michelangeli, Pollini or Piemontesi. They all have in common certain clarity, sharpness of attack, sparser using of pedal (but not dryness as with some older generation French players), but does that constitute a national style is difficult to tell. Perhaps there is some influence across the generations, but sample of pianists I know isn't broad enough to tell with any certainty. It does make me want to hear Zecchi, Ciani, Canino and maybe some more though.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on May 14, 2018, 06:00:19 PM
Quote from: Draško on May 14, 2018, 03:36:28 PM
That is an interesting question. I certainly can hear some similarities in Italian pianists I'm familiar with, like  Michelangeli, Pollini or Piemontesi. They all have in common certain clarity, sharpness of attack, sparser using of pedal (but not dryness as with some older generation French players), but does that constitute a national style is difficult to tell. Perhaps there is some influence across the generations, but sample of pianists I know isn't broad enough to tell with any certainty. It does make me want to hear Zecchi, Ciani, Canino and maybe some more though.

Of course, Michelangeli was Pollini's teacher, so that can explain some commonality in their style and approach.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on May 14, 2018, 11:15:41 PM
Quote from: Draško on May 14, 2018, 03:36:28 PM
That is an interesting question. I certainly can hear some similarities in Italian pianists I'm familiar with, like  Michelangeli, Pollini or Piemontesi. They all have in common certain clarity, sharpness of attack, sparser using of pedal (but not dryness as with some older generation French players), but does that constitute a national style is difficult to tell. Perhaps there is some influence across the generations, but sample of pianists I know isn't broad enough to tell with any certainty. It does make me want to hear Zecchi, Ciani, Canino and maybe some more though.

Who is Zecchi?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: North Star on May 14, 2018, 11:20:39 PM
Quote from: Mandryka on May 14, 2018, 11:15:41 PM
Who is Zecchi?
Carlo Zecchi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Zecchi).
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: milk on July 18, 2018, 02:26:02 AM
(https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/sa/k7/r3pix9fnkk7sa_300.jpg)
This has garnered raves...
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: milk on October 14, 2020, 08:50:59 PM
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XjZx5NnuA1k/X0iGZwUdmNI/AAAAAAAAZKc/e0RBMryFF_8WFKZbgDt9Q-0E4pQ3jW2GgCNcBGAsYHQ/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/cover.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on October 19, 2020, 11:04:06 AM
Quote from: Daverz on May 04, 2018, 01:18:43 PM
Rave review at MusicWeb for an early '50s recording by a pianist I've never heard of before, Hans Henkemans:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/May/Debussy_Henkemans_4829490.htm

It's also on the streaming services.

My favorite recording!!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: milk on October 19, 2020, 03:04:52 PM
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on October 19, 2020, 11:04:06 AM
My favorite recording!!  :) :) :)
pretty good sound quality!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: staxomega on October 20, 2020, 11:45:39 AM
milk you might like this one:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xbpKxrzPL.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: milk on October 20, 2020, 02:32:23 PM
Quote from: hvbias on October 20, 2020, 11:45:39 AM
milk you might like this one:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xbpKxrzPL.jpg)
OH! On a period instrument! ETA: I had a chance to listen to half of this this morning and come away very impressed. I also had a chance to put on Lubimov for comparison and I find her instrument a bit clearer. Her playing is ravishing; VII, for example is full of misty drama, like a storm. She's great. I have to research about her. I'm going to go back to Melnikov out of curiosity.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: staxomega on October 20, 2020, 03:31:47 PM
Quote from: milk on October 20, 2020, 02:32:23 PM
OH! On a period instrument! ETA: I had a chance to listen to half of this this morning and come away very impressed. I also had a chance to put on Lubimov for comparison and I find her instrument a bit clearer. Her playing is ravishing; VII, for example is full of misty drama, like a storm. She's great. I have to research about her. I'm going to go back to Melnikov out of curiosity.

Yeah it's a wonderful sounding instrument and her playing is exceptional; she never hammers away at it trying to get more dynamic range or volume. It has some of Michelangeli's transcendental environnement.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: milk on October 21, 2020, 06:24:45 AM
Quote from: hvbias on October 20, 2020, 03:31:47 PM
Yeah it's a wonderful sounding instrument and her playing is exceptional; she never hammers away at it trying to get more dynamic range or volume. It has some of Michelangeli's transcendental environnement.
I'm listening to some of her Bk 2 and it's still entrancing. I was comparing it to Melnikov's recording of Bk2 on an old Erard.  Melnikov is great too, but a little more subdued. The piano sound is less roomy, more intimate, and the effect of the playing is more relaxed and less dreamy.
Two great recordings but I'd choose Sasaki if I had to choose one (on period instruments).
Lubimov is another one on a period piano. There's a little bit of drama missing from his. It doesn't have the electric of Sasaki.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: staxomega on October 23, 2020, 06:24:30 AM
Quote from: milk on October 21, 2020, 06:24:45 AM
I'm listening to some of her Bk 2 and it's still entrancing. I was comparing it to Melnikov's recording of Bk2 on an old Erard.  Melnikov is great too, but a little more subdued. The piano sound is less roomy, more intimate, and the effect of the playing is more relaxed and less dreamy.
Two great recordings but I'd choose Sasaki if I had to choose one (on period instruments).
Lubimov is another one on a period piano. There's a little bit of drama missing from his. It doesn't have the electric of Sasaki.

I heard Melnikov when they were rolling out that Debussy anniversary series. Lots of fine releases in that series but IMO Melnikov was one of the more underwhelming ones. He seems to hyper focus on the details when one aspect of the Preludes to achieve that dream like effect is looking at them as a whole.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Iota on October 29, 2020, 09:15:45 AM
Quote from: hvbias on October 20, 2020, 11:45:39 AM
milk you might like this one:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xbpKxrzPL.jpg)


Excellent recommendation! Sasaki is stellar from the beginning to end of both books, and that Pleyel sounds great!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on September 01, 2022, 02:30:07 PM
Nice and different.


(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91vuxVCrJkL._SX466_.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on September 01, 2022, 05:11:01 PM
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on September 01, 2022, 02:30:07 PM
Nice and different.


(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91vuxVCrJkL._SX466_.jpg)

Great cover!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on March 11, 2023, 10:23:58 AM
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91l4Wovc5TL._SL1500_.jpg)

Digging into this set.  There was only one place to start: CD 17, the 1951 recording of Debussy's Preludes.  I have been waiting to hear this recording for over twenty years.  Was it worth the wait?  Kinda, kinda not.  I'll start with the problem: the recording itself.  There's overload and saturation aplenty, especially in Book I.  Fortissimo loses its impact.  It's obvious why the 1954 set is the oft reissued one.  The playing is very fine, as one would expect.  I've long preferred the 1930s recording to the 1954 recording, and in most ways, this is similar to the 1954 recording.  Gieseking is much swifter, nimbler, and flexible in the earlier recording, and here he actually takes some pieces at a slow tempo.  La cathédrale engloutie comes in at 7'11", for instance.  Some of the pianissimo playing really sticks out, though, more than my memories of his later set.  And at least once, due to playing and sound, the whole thing's almost a mess.  Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest sounds chaotic, but Gieseking is one of the few pianists who can salvage chaos. Somewhat against expectation, Book II is relatively better than Book I on first listen.  Giesking's Debussy is high quality stuff, but I long ago found that others are even more to my like - eg, Michel Beroff's Denon set.  This is good enough that it may make restart my comps of the seventy-plus recordings of Book I that I have amassed.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Leo K. on May 15, 2023, 09:09:15 AM
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xtFErG0pL._SY355_.jpg)

Amazing emotionally cool performances that are right up my alley.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Leo K. on May 18, 2023, 05:14:57 AM
Quote from: staxomega on October 20, 2020, 11:45:39 AMmilk you might like this one:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xbpKxrzPL.jpg)

I am really impressed by this recording with the Pleyel 1873, and wow stunning playing too.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 06, 2023, 09:43:23 AM
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51WDhsY3vlL._UX425_FMwebp_QL85_.jpg)


My prior experience with Mr Shimkus' artistry is limited to his excellent entry in the ongoing Naxos Soler edition.  I was happy to try something else, so why not go for his recording of Debussy's Preludes, I thought.  It opens nicely enough, but once one arrives at Le vent dans la plaine, one is treated to fluid playing and just so accenting that really catches the ear.  La cathédrale engloutie, always a critical piece, has scale without overdoing it, with supremely controlled fortissimo playing, and the left hand playing sounds clear and potent but not overpowering.  All of Book I is a delight.  Book II sounds better yet.  That fluid playing and dynamic control marries to legato, sometimes from the sustain and sometimes from digital dexterity and sometimes both, in a manner that makes the music flow effortlessly from under the pianist's fingers.  The one-two punch of Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses and Bruyères offer masterful displays of fluid rhythm and exquisite gentility. Mr Shimkus is one of the many contemporary pianists who can do anything, and he does so here with impeccable taste and refined artistry.  Clearly, I need to listen to more of his recordings.  And this recording is making me think about restarting my Debussy Preludes comparisons, if I can find the time.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Luke on August 06, 2023, 10:01:26 AM
Shimkus has serious chops. There's a video of him playing a composition of his own called Black Charleston which is insanely difficult (I have the score, and can scarcely play any of it). Granted, it's his own piece so it fits his hands' idiosyncracies perfectly, but it's a powerfully physical, exciting performance of a highly virtuosic composition. 

Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 06, 2023, 10:18:50 AM
Quote from: Luke on August 06, 2023, 10:01:26 AMShimkus has serious chops.

Indeed.  Imagine hearing this is in a train station:


We live in the true Golden Age of pianists.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 22, 2023, 04:34:33 PM
I've recently started thinking maybe I should restart my Preludes Book I listening marathon, working through all 78 versions I now own.  If I do so, I should probably add a few more to my collection, and of course I would stream some sets.  If I do it, I kind of like the idea of getting to a nice round 100 versions.  I did some digging and found 190 recordings of the first book, though some I suspect are like Claudio Colomobo's "recording", which I purposely left out.  Anyway, if anyone knows of any versions I missed, additions would be welcome.  (Pianists who recorded more than one version appear more than once.)



Akiko Kusano
Al Goranski
Alain Planes
Albert Ferber
Aldo Ciccolini
Alessandra Ammara
Alfred Cortot
Ami Fujiwara
Amir Tebenikhin
Anatoly Vedernikov
Andrew von Oeyen
Angela Brownridge
Anker Blyme
Anton Batagov
Antonio Rosado
Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Atsuko Yamauchi
Bennett Lerner
Boris Berman
Bruno Canino
Catherine Collard
Catherine Kautsky
Cecille Ousset
Christopher Devine
Christopher Howell
Claudio Arrau
Claudio Constantini
Craig Sheppard
Cyril Guillotin
Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Ericourt
Denis Pascal
Dennis Lee
Dino Ciani
Duncan Gifford
E Robert Schmitz
Elaine Greenfield
Elizabeth Sharma
Eloise Bella Kohn
Enrico Belli
Enrique Bernaldo de Quirós
Eric Heidsieck
Evgeny Koroliov
Fazil Say
Fou Ts'ong
Francesco Piemontesi
Francine Kay
Francois Chaplin
Francois-Joel Thiollier
Friedrich Gulda
Geoffrey Saba
George Lepauw
Georges Pludermacher
Gerardo Taube Horowitz
Gianluca Cascioli
Gilead Mishory
Gordon Fergus-Thompson
Gregory Haimovsky
Guiomar Novaes
Gunter Reinhold
Hakon Austbo
Hans Henkemans
Hans Leygraf
Haydee Schvartz
Henry Blossom
Henry Doskey
Hiroki Sasaki
Hiroshi Nagao
Ichiro Nodaira
Idil Biret
Ikuyo Nakamichi
Ilja Hurnik
Ivan Ilic
Jacopo Salvatori
Jacques Rouvier
Javier Perianes
Jean Bernard Pommier
Jean Boguet
Jean Casadesus
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Jean-François Antonioli
Jean-Paul Gasparian
Jean-Pierre Armengaud
Jean-Rodolphe Kars
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Jeroen Riemsdijk
John Roney
Jorg Demus
Jorge Federico Osorio
Jos van Immerseel
Julia Bartha
Jun Kanno
Katie Mahan
Kazuoki Fujii
Keiko Toyama
Konstantin Emelyanov
Kornel Zempleni
Kristina Svanberg
Krystian Zimerman
Kyoko Edo
Larissa Dedova
Lars Sellergren
Leonard Pennario
Leonardo Zunica
Livia Rev
Marcelle Meyer
Marco Tezza
Mario Haring
Marita Viitasalo
Mark Laughlin
Martin Jones
Martin Klett
Matino Tirimo
Maurizio Pollini
Mayako Asada
Melvyn Tan
Míceál O'Rourke
Michael Korstick
Michael Levinas
Michael Lewin
Michel Beroff
Michel Beroff
Michel Beroff
Michel Dalberto
Monique Haas
Monique Haas
Narumi Arasaki
Nelson Freire
Nino Gvetadze
Noel Lee
Noémie Berz
Noriko Ogawa
Paavali Jumppanen
Pascal Gallet
Pascal Roge
Pascal Roge
Patricia Pagny
Paul Crossley
Paul Jacobs
Peter Donohoe
Peter Frankl
Philippe Bianconi
Philippe Cassard
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Prodromos Symeonidis
Ralph Votapek
Reine Gianoli
Robert Casadesus
Robert Cassidy
Roger Woodward
Ronald Farren-Price
Roy Howat
Rubén Yessayan
Ruth Schmid-Gagnebin
Sa Chen
Samson Francois
Sandro Baldi
Sergey Shepkin
Stany David Lasry
Steven Osborne
Sylvie Nicephor
Tamas Vesmas
Terry Lynn Hudson
Theodore Paraskivesco
Vanessa Benelli Mosell
Veronique Bonnecaze
Vestard Shimkus
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Viardo
Walter Gieseking (1930s)
Walter Gieseking (1951)
Walter Gieseking (1954)
Wendel Diebel
Werner Haas
Wojciech Świtała
Woori Kim Smith
Yin Cheng-Zong
Yoko Kitamura
Youri Egorov
Yukie Nagai
Yukio Yokoyama
Yuma Osaki
Zaidee Parkinson
Zane Miller
Zoe Erisman
Zoltan Kocsis
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Luke on August 22, 2023, 05:22:03 PM
Alexei Lubimov? On ECM
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on August 22, 2023, 06:30:33 PM
Nina Tichman
Izumi Tatino ( = Joyce Hatto)
Dang Thai Son
Alice Adler
Richard Goode (private recording)
Minori Nojima
Yasukawa Kazuko




Cortot recorded them twice I think.

Be sure to hear Tichman.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Todd on August 23, 2023, 04:22:07 AM
I knew I missed some.  Thanks
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on August 23, 2023, 06:30:22 AM
So many Japanese artists! More than French pianists?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on August 25, 2023, 06:49:58 PM
Takayuki Ito.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: aukhawk on August 27, 2023, 02:20:55 AM
I have a recording of 10/12 of Bk1 by Sviatoslav Richter - but it seems to omit La fille aux cheveux de lin and Minstrels.  It's on the BBC Legends label.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: atardecer on August 27, 2023, 03:24:36 PM
William Harms - Debussy Preludes Book I:


Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on February 15, 2024, 09:05:13 PM
Any interesting recording of Book 2?
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on February 16, 2024, 12:48:33 AM
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on February 15, 2024, 09:05:13 PMAny interesting recording of Book 2?

https://groups.google.com/g/rec.music.classical.recordings/c/YWN1dH-wM30/m/RGPcQCs3AgAJ
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on February 16, 2024, 06:58:42 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on February 16, 2024, 12:48:33 AMhttps://groups.google.com/g/rec.music.classical.recordings/c/YWN1dH-wM30/m/RGPcQCs3AgAJ

Thanks a lot for the link. Richter and Ericourt look interesting. I like Paul Jacobs.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: George on February 16, 2024, 07:29:33 AM
wow, Google groups rmcr is dead in a few days!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: DavidW on February 16, 2024, 07:50:55 AM
Quote from: George on February 16, 2024, 07:29:33 AMwow, Google groups rmcr is dead in a few days!

The end of an era!
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Hans Holbein on February 16, 2024, 09:40:16 AM
Quote from: Luke on August 22, 2023, 05:22:03 PMAlexei Lubimov? On ECM

And an earlier one, from 1971, on Melodiya.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Daverz on February 16, 2024, 02:33:35 PM
Quote from: George on February 16, 2024, 07:29:33 AMwow, Google groups rmcr is dead in a few days!

EDIT: Actually it seems that it's Google that is getting kicked off Usenet, not the other way 'round.

I checked in a few weeks ago, and it looked like a cesspool then (over Israel/Palestine, but it's always something...).  I posted a lot on r.m.c.r in the pre-GMG days.

r.m.c.r will still be available with a Usenet news reader, though.  Google Groups was just a free way to access it on the web without having to subscribe to a Usenet server.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: DavidW on February 16, 2024, 04:12:22 PM
Quote from: Daverz on February 16, 2024, 02:33:35 PMr.m.c.r will still be available with a Usenet news reader, though.  Google Groups was just a free way to access it on the web without having to subscribe to a Usenet server.

That is an age check if I've ever seen one!  No millenial or gen z would even know about subing to a usenet server.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mookalafalas on February 16, 2024, 08:24:43 PM
Irina Mejoueva in live recital

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71uFBi45ddL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on February 19, 2024, 06:46:25 PM
Listening to these recordings on YouTube lately.


(https://music.metason.net/image?fn=R-8504192.jpeg&sc=379)

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T1/images/I/61f6Z2j2ZrL._SX466_.jpg)


Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on February 25, 2024, 08:44:19 AM
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on February 16, 2024, 06:58:42 AMThanks a lot for the link. Richter and Ericourt look interesting. I like Paul Jacobs.

New discovery - Hisako Hiseki. Bad sound though.
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on February 26, 2024, 07:02:56 PM
Talking about Joyce Hatto, I just checked Tateno's Debussy. Nice playing, but the touch is a little hard (and monotonous) for my preference. Plus, I would like more rhythmic vigor and expression. Again, decent performance though.


(https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music122/v4/44/2d/d4/442dd448-af9b-5bf5-0b4f-3768e3efcd6c/D32L_00006.jpg/400x400bb.jpg)
Title: Re: Debussy's Preludes
Post by: Mandryka on February 27, 2024, 12:06:04 AM
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on February 26, 2024, 07:02:56 PMTalking about Joyce Hatto, I just checked Tateno's Debussy. Nice playing, but the touch is a little hard (and monotonous) for my preference. Plus, I would like more rhythmic vigor and expression. Again, decent performance though.


(https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music122/v4/44/2d/d4/442dd448-af9b-5bf5-0b4f-3768e3efcd6c/D32L_00006.jpg/400x400bb.jpg)

I have a recording of him with Bk1 and 2 - I've never got into much, though as you say it seems decent enough.