[shadowdancer]

Hi all,

I got myself listening to it a lot during the last year. I would like to hear your opinion about good performances.

My favorite are: Gieseking (despite the bad quality sound) and Arrau`s from Final Session.

From the modern lot, I have sympathy for Bavouzet.

Thoughts?

 

[ptr]

Gieseking is an everlasting classic! For me, the only competition is Zoltán Kocsis mid 80's Philips release, Kocsis brings out qualities in this music that I've experienced from reading the score! (It's hard to explain, but it is those subtle things that perhaps gets lost with Giseking purely because of the "ancient" sound quality)

/ptr

 

[Mandryka]

Sv Richter in Salzburg on Orfeo.

 

[PetrB]

Others at the same level -- astonishingly beautiful pianism coupled with supremely intelligent musicianship -- as a number of others so far mentioned, but simply different, are:

Samson François

Monique Haas. (Recorded all Debussy solo piano, ditto Ravel, DGG, still available.)

I would be surprised if Vlado Perlemuter did not play it, but if there is a recording I do not know of it.

 

[Mandryka]

This is pretty early Debussy. To me it can sound a bit triv, Richter in Salzburg, on the other hand, is oneiric.

Here's Michelangeli humming Clair de Lune

 

[Guest]

Hi all,

I got myself listening to it a lot during the last year. I would like to hear your opinion about good performances.

My favorite are: Gieseking (despite the bad quality sound) and Arrau`s from Final Session.

From the modern lot, I have sympathy for Bavouzet.

Thoughts?

I'm listening to the Gieseking now, seems a little bit stately in comparison to Bavouzet, my preference.

 

[shadowdancer]

Interesting inputs so far... If I would define a range, let`s that Gieseking is at one end and Bavouzet the other.
I was researching a bit and found out that Arrau`s version is almost 10 min (!!!) longer than Bavouzet.
Michelangeli is also a champion on the subject.
I will definitely look into Richter too.

 

[Triplets]

Gieseking's recordings were the first to be widely disseminated, and remained the only commonly available choice for years. I think a lot people were imprinted by them, and they do have their virtues. Imo they have been superseded by a mountain of Artists in modern sound. My favorite dates from the 1960s, Aldo Ciccolini, but I have not heard many others.

 

[shadowdancer]

Unfortunately, at least in my opinion, is that I don`t have a nice recording of Gieseking. The bad sound quality is a bias here. That is the reason that I listen more often to Arrau`s. Bavouzet is technical. Impressive notes precision. But somehow I think his tempi are a bit too fast.
Another artist worth listening: Alexis Weissenberg

 

[Selby]

Pascal Roge is my favorite Debussy interpreter; the box set is an essential in my world; his Suite is gorgeous.

 

[shadowdancer]

Pascal Roge is my favorite Debussy interpreter; the box set is an essential in my world; his Suite is gorgeous.
View attachment 62988

Thanks for the input. This is an unknown record for me. I will check it out.

 

[Vaneyes]

Weissenberg, Crossley, Bavouzet.

 

[Blake]

I'm most familiar with Bavouzet... I have all of his Debussy piano works, actually. And he's most excellent.

 

[GioCar]

Interesting inputs so far... If I would define a range, let`s that Gieseking is at one end and Bavouzet the other.
I was researching a bit and found out that Arrau`s version is almost 10 min (!!!) longer than Bavouzet.
Michelangeli is also a champion on the subject.
I will definitely look into Richter too.

I love Michelangeli's Debussy, I think no one else had (or has) such a perfect control of the sound colors, but I am not aware of any recording of the Suite Bergamasque by him. Quite strange, because afaik he loved it. Maybe you or someone else can help.

 

[shadowdancer]

I love Michelangeli's Debussy, I think no one else had (or has) such a perfect control of the sound colors, but I am not aware of any recording of the Suite Bergamasque by him. Quite strange, because afaik he loved it. Maybe you or someone else can help.

When I wrote "champion" I meant as a Debussy player.

As far as I know, he didn't record a complete Suite Bergamasque.
It would be quite nice if I am wrong about it...

 

[20centrfuge]

Zoltán Kocsis mid 80's Philips release
/ptr

I second that. I like that recording a lot.