Debussy's Corner

Started by Kullervo, December 19, 2007, 05:47:00 PM

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lordlance

I am no Debussy fan but I recently heard Harding conduct La Mer with Orchestre de Paris and I must say it is an extraordinary performance with great sonics to boot. Can be watched here: https://vk.com/video737728344_456240464
If you are interested in listening to orchestrations of solo/chamber music, you might be interested in this thread.
Also looking for recommendations on neglected conductors thread.

Pohjolas Daughter

#761
Quote from: lordlance on September 11, 2024, 12:52:16 PMI am no Debussy fan but I recently heard Harding conduct La Mer with Orchestre de Paris and I must say it is an extraordinary performance with great sonics to boot. Can be watched here: https://vk.com/video737728344_456240464

@lordlance Delighted that you found a performance of La Mer which you enjoy!  :)

PD

Le Buisson Ardent

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on July 27, 2024, 08:04:37 PMA first listen to Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien. Somehow I was expecting an early work, not properly typical of his full-fledged impressionist style. How wrong I was, but eventually, I was glad, it succeeded my expectations. What struck me the most is how ecstatic and mystical it sounds, not even in his Pelléas et Mélisande I perceived that level of gorgeousness; the writing for female voices, especially, is beyond sublime, just mesmerizingly divine, let alone the flawless orchestration. It incorporates narration, and since it was in French, it didn't bother me. This language is so "musical" that flows quite well with the instruments and sung voices.

The detail that didn't appeal to me that much was the dynamic range of the recording. It is too inaudible in places, and in others there's this sudden loud explosion that makes me jump out of my seat.

All this time I was missing a major work!



Lovely, Cesar. I love Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien (sans narration of course!). Debussy felt rather proud of the work, but it has a long and complicated history that I highly suggest reading about when you have the time. As @Mandryka points out, the Cambreling recording is excellent and has the narration tracked separately (and as a person who buys CDs, this is incredibly helpful). I'll have give this work another listen as it's been far too long.

Le Buisson Ardent

Getting back to Debussy, I must say that even though he's my favorite composer of all-time, I still don't think La Mer is one of his greatest works. For me, so much of this man's greatness lies in certain corners of his oeuvre. Of course, there is no denying the impact of La Mer and it is a fine piece, but I think too often listeners tend to overpraise this work and they don't go much deeper. There are SO MANY wonderful pieces from this composer to discover!

DavidW

Hi all, I've completely removed the recent argument. Let us get back to Debussy! We can take MI's recent post as a good starting point.

I love La Mer, but I usually put on the solo piano works when I want to listen to Debussy. I have not heard all of Debussy's output though, and should change that.

Symphonic Addict

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 19, 2024, 06:59:14 AMLovely, Cesar. I love Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien (sans narration of course!). Debussy felt rather proud of the work, but it has a long and complicated history that I highly suggest reading about when you have the time. As @Mandryka points out, the Cambreling recording is excellent and has the narration tracked separately (and as a person who buys CDs, this is incredibly helpful). I'll have give this work another listen as it's been far too long.

Thanks, John. I'll be checking that Cambreling recording out.
Part of the tragedy of the Palestinians is that they have essentially no international support for a good reason: they've no wealth, they've no power, so they've no rights.

Noam Chomsky

Le Buisson Ardent

Quote from: DavidW on September 19, 2024, 11:11:34 AMHi all, I've completely removed the recent argument. Let us get back to Debussy! We can take MI's recent post as a good starting point.

I love La Mer, but I usually put on the solo piano works when I want to listen to Debussy. I have not heard all of Debussy's output though, and should change that.

May I suggest a few works to you, Dave?

Here are five to check out (if you haven't already) --- in no particular order:

Ballades de François Villon
Sonata for Flute, Viola & Harp
La Damoiselle élue
Danses sacrée and profane
Jeux

Maestro267

Jeux is the Debussy work I find myself returning to most.

Le Buisson Ardent

Quote from: Maestro267 on September 20, 2024, 05:49:04 AMJeux is the Debussy work I find myself returning to most.

No love for any of the solo piano music?

Madiel

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 20, 2024, 06:00:37 AMNo love for any of the solo piano music?

Eh? Saying what your favourite piece is doesn't mean you have no love for anything else.
I finally have the ability to edit my signature again. But no, I've no idea what I want to say here right now.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Maestro267 on September 20, 2024, 05:49:04 AMJeux is the Debussy work I find myself returning to most.
I'm not surprised!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Le Buisson Ardent

I think this short work brilliantly encapsulates everything that I love about Debussy in one single movement --- D'un cahier d'esquisses:


Maestro267

#772
Quote from: Mirror Image on September 20, 2024, 06:00:37 AMNo love for any of the solo piano music?

I'm only just starting on those, having picked up a set of them recently.

Also yes, what Madiel said. Honestly people kinda need to chill a little. Not this case here but when people are like "Why has no one mentioned [work] yet?" It's like...You just did..........congratulations. Saved the rest of us the job of doing it.

Mandryka

#773
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

kyjo

#774
Quote from: Maestro267 on September 20, 2024, 05:49:04 AMJeux is the Debussy work I find myself returning to most.

Agreed, it's certainly a mesmerizing and singular work that shows Debussy's craft at its most refined and his orchestration at its most brilliant. I was recently listening to the amazingly vivid recording by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony:

"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

Mandryka

#775
Well, this is a find, I want more like this. Pogorelich playing a Debussy prelude in 1977 for a VOX LP which has never been commercially transferred.


Who else plays like this? Michelangeli? Beroff?


Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

Kalevala

Quote from: Mandryka on Today at 02:01:53 AMWell, this is a find, I want more like this. Pogorelich playing a Debussy prelude in 1977 for a VOX LP which has never been commercially transferred.


Who else plays like this? Michelangeli? Beroff?


I've never heard an interpretation close to this in terms of tempo and phrasing.

K