Debussy's Corner

[Mandryka]

A very good La Mer from Robin Ticciati  I think

[Christo]

A very good La Mer from Robin Ticciati  I think

Good to learn there are more (I own about 20 recordings, I guess (my shelves are downstairs), most of them fine (otherwise I wouldn't have them).

First heard La Mer when I was 14, probably 15 -- and yes, really: was enthralled, mesmerized, on the spot. But I never listened as much Debussy as I did Ravel, Falla, Vaughan Williams, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky & Saint-Saëns (when still sooo young), Brian, Barber, Ginastera or even (late, 'much underrated') Respighi. Don't ask me why: the Lord works in mysterious ways. I do love every piece by Debussy I know (certainly all of his orchestral output, including all orchestrations by others found in "those boxes" on the said shelves). Perhaps, as good old friend Jeffrey puts it, I should listen more.

[Mandryka]

Good nocturnes here from Michel Tabachnik I think

[Mandryka]

And a wonderful La Mer from Svetlanov live here

[ChamberNut]

Cross-posted from "listening..." thread.

Claude Debussy - The Complete Works

Journey completed!

Overall, it was an enjoyable exploration. A greater appreciation has been obtained for a composer who previously had been received by me rather coldly (with some exceptions). One thing I noticed is that I seem to drawn to his earlier works, rather than his later works. Of course, exceptions are in play. I'm very happy I made the investment!

Just some of the several highlights for me:

Le Gladiateur (one of the few vocal works I found enjoyable). I'm just not into French vocal music.

*Images for orchestra

La Mer (a work that I did know before and previously enjoyed)

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (ditto, same as above)

Danse sacrée et danse profane for harp and string orchestra (this is an old favourite)

Nocturnes for orchestra

Rapsodie for saxophone and orchestra

Première Suite d'Orchestre

*La Plus que Lente - orchestra version (major bonus points for the Cimbalom!!!)

La boîte à joujoux, for orchestra

Pretty much all the chamber music (wish there had been more!)

*Préludes for piano - particularly "La cathédrale engloutie", which is probably now my favourite work of his.

[Kalevala]

Cross-posted from "listening..." thread.

Claude Debussy - The Complete Works

Journey completed!

Overall, it was an enjoyable exploration. A greater appreciation has been obtained for a composer who previously had been received by me rather coldly (with some exceptions). One thing I noticed is that I seem to drawn to his earlier works, rather than his later works. Of course, exceptions are in play. I'm very happy I made the investment!

Just some of the several highlights for me:

Le Gladiateur (one of the few vocal works I found enjoyable). I'm just not into French vocal music.

*Images for orchestra

La Mer (a work that I did know before and previously enjoyed)

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (ditto, same as above)

Danse sacrée et danse profane for harp and string orchestra (this is an old favourite)

Nocturnes for orchestra

Rapsodie for saxophone and orchestra

Première Suite d'Orchestre

*La Plus que Lente - orchestra version (major bonus points for the Cimbalom!!!)

La boîte à joujoux, for orchestra

Pretty much all the chamber music (wish there had been more!)

*Préludes for piano - particularly "La cathédrale engloutie", which is probably now my favourite work of his.

I love La cathédrale engloutie in particular.    So much wonderful music from Debussy.

K

[Mandryka]

There aren't many recordings of men singers in Debussy's songs which I like - in fact I can only think of one other (Francois le Roux) Stephane Degout and Alain Planès are very good (and so Sophie Karthauser with Eugene Asti) This is an outstanding disc IMO, good programme too.

Booklet here

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/83/000118738.pdf

[ritter]

There aren't many recordings of men singers in Debussy's songs which I like - in fact I can only think of one other (Francois le Roux) Stephane Degout and Alain Planès are very good - and so Sophie Karthauser with Eugene Asti) This is an outstanding disc IMO, good programme too.
...

Indeed, a superb disc. Degout is a remarkable singer. I was lucky enough to see him as Debussy's Pelléas in Brussels a decade ago, and it was memorable.

[Mandryka]

Indeed, a superb disc. Degout is a remarkable singer. I was lucky enough to see him as Debussy's Pelléas in Brussels a decade ago, and it was memorable.

This is another outstanding male Debussy recital disc, Francois Le Roux and Noel Lee.

[DaveF]

Just started reading:


Very entertaining and informative and, since I knew almost nothing about Debussy's life, endlessly surprising.  For example, the fact that the teenage Debussy ("Achille" in those days) was a member of Mme von Meck's touring household (yes, that Mme von Meck) and gained early acquaintance with Tchaikovsky symphonies through playing piano duet versions with herself.

[Mandryka]

Indeed, a superb disc. Degout is a remarkable singer. I was lucky enough to see him as Debussy's Pelléas in Brussels a decade ago, and it was memorable.

Degout has started to tour with the Diotima Quartet singing the Schoeck Notturno, in London next summer, no doubt in Paris before that.

[Mandryka]

Just started reading:


Very entertaining and informative and, since I knew almost nothing about Debussy's life, endlessly surprising.  For example, the fact that the teenage Debussy ("Achille" in those days) was a member of Mme von Meck's touring household (yes, that Mme von Meck) and gained early acquaintance with Tchaikovsky symphonies through playing piano duet versions with herself.

While we're on about Debussy books, let me recommend Paul Robert's first book, called Images. There's a second one on Phaedon which I haven't seen yet.


https://archive.org/details/imagespianomusic0000paul

[Florestan]

Just started reading:


Very entertaining and informative and, since I knew almost nothing about Debussy's life, endlessly surprising.  For example, the fact that the teenage Debussy ("Achille" in those days) was a member of Mme von Meck's touring household (yes, that Mme von Meck) and gained early acquaintance with Tchaikovsky symphonies through playing piano duet versions with herself.

If I'm not mistaken, he wrote the piano trio in those days, specifically for being played in Nadezhda von Meck's entourage --- and indeed if one wouldn't know the composer beforehand, one would guess an unabashedly romantic soul behind the music (not that "romantic", even "romantic dreamer", is widely off the mark with respect to Debussy).

[San Antone]

Just started reading:


Very entertaining and informative and, since I knew almost nothing about Debussy's life, endlessly surprising.  For example, the fact that the teenage Debussy ("Achille" in those days) was a member of Mme von Meck's touring household (yes, that Mme von Meck) and gained early acquaintance with Tchaikovsky symphonies through playing piano duet versions with herself.

I have the book but with a different cover.



I bought it in 2019 and must have read some of it but have forgotten it entirely.

[DaveF]

I have the book but with a different cover.



I bought it in 2019 and must have read some of it but have forgotten it entirely.

Much more interesting cover - Debussy about to take off in a high wind.