BaL 24.03 18 - Debussy: Preludes Book 1

[verismissimo]

... I quite like Debussy's music.

[HighlandDougie]

I'm a bit obsessed with Debussy so my 19th recording of the Préludes Book One has just been delivered by La Poste (Hans Henkemans). I pretty much agree with the lack of enthusiasm for Zimerman (as I said in an earlier post about his Schubert, "Wow!" at first, then the mannerisms become wearisome on repeated listening). Bavouzet, Bianconi, Cassard, Chaplin, Lubimov, and Planès all do it for me these days. Gun to head, I would save Lubimov. Given the long list of recordings and the sometimes elusive nature of this music, though, I find the idea of another twofer, even if it is Iain Burnside, a bit depressing. Even DON would have made me feel more enthusiastic. Having said that, I can but hope that my Cassandra-like forebodings are proved to be wrong.

[Bryn]

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... no. He also needs Ciani, Ciccolini, François, Cassard [1898 Bechstein], Casadesus, Lubimov [1925 Bechstein], and van Immerseel [1897 Érard].




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Bear in mind that Planès used an 1897 Bechstein for the Préludes.

[vinteuil]

Bear in mind that Planès used an 1897 Bechstein for the Préludes.

... which is one of the reasons it's in my essentials list of de Bussy recordings!




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[Bryn]

... which is one of the reasons it's in my essentials list of de Bussy recordings!




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I am a bit miffed to find the Lubimov double CD set costs around the same as the Planès complete Debussy solo piano music box did when I bought it 8 years ago, and neither the Lubimov nor the Immerseel is available for streaming from QOBUZ.

[Pianorak]

Walter Gieseking, G Fergus-Thompson, Paul Jacobs, Krystian Zimerman, Youri Egorov.

[gradus]

Bear in mind that Planès used an 1897 Bechstein for the Préludes.

Should have been a 1904 Bluthner!

http://www.litart.co.uk/bluthner.htm

[gradus]

These are such great pieces that I almost don't care who plays them as long as they can get through the notes, but contrary to the above praise for him I don't much care for the Ciani set which for some reason seems unidiomatic to me. No, I'm not sure what I mean either!
On the other hand Ciani in the Schumann Novelettes is simply wonderful.
I hope that Cedric Thibergien has recorded the preludes and is included in the BAL. He gave Book I in a broadcast recital a few years back and it was thrilling, full of daredevilry and intensely expressive.

[BBMmk2]

I have two sets of which I must return too. Arturo Benedetti Michaelangeli ,and Pascal Roge. Both set I greatly admire but will they gain the accolade?

[Padraig]

the Lubimov double CD set

...which is the set I got for Christmas, recommended here, thank you vinteuil. However I'm not up to telling vintage Bechsteins and Steinways apart, so I'll be all ears listening to tomorrow's discussion on points like that. To tell the truth I think I'm happier with modern pianos, so I might be willing to try a contrasting set if the right one comes along.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... I'll be all ears listening to tomorrow's discussion ...

Next week's

[Padraig]

Next week's

I'll be listening to that as well!

[visualnickmos]

Monique Haas ? Not bad (DG)

[PJPJ]

I'm a bit obsessed with Debussy so my 19th recording of the Préludes Book One has just been delivered by La Poste (Hans Henkemans). I pretty much agree with the lack of enthusiasm for Zimerman (as I said in an earlier post about his Schubert, "Wow!" at first, then the mannerisms become wearisome on repeated listening). Bavouzet, Bianconi, Cassard, Chaplin, Lubimov, and Planès all do it for me these days. Gun to head, I would save Lubimov. Given the long list of recordings and the sometimes elusive nature of this music, though, I find the idea of another twofer, even if it is Iain Burnside, a bit depressing. Even DON would have made me feel more enthusiastic. Having said that, I can but hope that my Cassandra-like forebodings are proved to be wrong.

Lubimov, Bavouzet and Henkemans are very rewarding. I must investigate others on your list. I was very impressed by Izumi Tateno in its Joyce Hatto impression - it's time Tateno was reissued.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Claude-DEBUSSY-Pr%C3%A9ludes-FINLANDIA-RECORDING/dp/B06XCX1HZ5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521234887&sr=8-1&keywords=Izumi+Tateno+debussy

[LeMartinPecheur]

I started with the Frankl Turnabout LPs. Since then, Jacobs, Gieseking, Bavouzet, Michelangeli. No particular favourite - I'll wait for the broadcast to decide