Debussy's Preludes

[Baron Scarpia]

I first became acquainted with the Preludes through Ciani, and sill have warm feelings for his recordings.

[Mirror Image]

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?

[Mookalafalas]

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   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. 

[Mirror Image]

  You probably aren't   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?

[Mookalafalas]

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...

[Mirror Image]

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.

[Mookalafalas]

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...

[Mirror Image]

  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.

[Mookalafalas]

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...

[Mirror Image]

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...

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.

[Mookalafalas]

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

[Mirror Image]

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.

[Mookalafalas]

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...

[Mirror Image]

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. Chalk up another fan of Egorov's Debussy on the big board.

[GioCar]

I first became acquainted with the Preludes through Ciani, and sill have warm feelings for his recordings.

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

[Mookalafalas]

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...).

[ritter]

...

   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...

[Mr. Minnow]

Anyone familiar with this?

[Josquin13]

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...

[George]

Great post, Josquin!