BaL 25.01.14 - Debussy: Images Books 1 & 2 for Piano

[Bryn]

I must admit that I rather liked what I heard of that piano roll recording.

As for other HIP recordings of Préludes and Images, there is a Jos van Immerseel recording of him playing an 1897 Erard...you can hear some excerpts on the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Preludes-Jos-Van-Immerseel/dp/B000003UYA/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1390684374&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=debussy+van+immerseel

...there's also a very interesting accompanying essay by Immerseel of how he discovered this old piano in near-mint condition.

However, what Immerseel plays on the 1897 Erard is not the two sets of Images published during Debussy's lifetime (the subject of BaL), but the three 'Images Oulbliées' and the first book of Preludes. Not that that should put anyone off the purchase. It did not put me off.

[VodkaDilc]

I've only just listened to this review - and, like others, I found the selection and reasonings odd. The classic Arrau was not mentioned, the almost-as-classic Michelangeli was quickly dismissed, the lovely Trpceski was considered over-pedalled - just to give three examples. All a bit too personal to carry much weight, in my opinion.

[silvestrione]

Nor in mine - and I won't be as diplomatic as you in not making clear my preference . I love Grieg's Music - marvellously poised, lovely gift for melody, adventurous use of harmony, and largely avoiding the temptation to bombast that afflicted some of his contemporaries - but Debussy has my jaw dropping at every bar: the imagination, the audacity the achievement. Utterly astonishing from every aspect.

Absolutely, that's a great summary, in my view, Ferney.

On the pedalling issue, I was puzzled: Bavouzet just did not seem to be over-pedalling ('creating a wash of sound' etc.) to my ears. There was still a clear sense of layers of sound and dynamic.

I enjoyed the BAL, but was disappointed at the lack of historical perspective: Gieseking, Arrau, Richter, etc.

[richardfinegold]

Nor in mine - and I won't be as diplomatic as you in not making clear my preference . I love Grieg's Music - marvellously poised, lovely gift for melody, adventurous use of harmony, and largely avoiding the temptation to bombast that afflicted some of his contemporaries - but Debussy has my jaw dropping at every bar: the imagination, the audacity the achievement. Utterly astonishing from every aspect.

Didn't Debussy once refer to Grieg's music as "Pink bon bon filled with snow"?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Didn't Debussy once refer to Grieg's music as "Pink bon bon filled with snow"?

Yeah. When he wasn't imagining and composing sounds, Debussy could be a real twerp.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yeah. When he wasn't imagining and composing sounds, Debussy could be a real twerp.

Just ask Lilly Debussy née Texier...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just ask Lilly Debussy née Texier...

Quite!

[MickyD]

I always have such difficulty accepting the fact that La Mer was inspired by Debussy's holiday in Eastbourne! Not exactly the image one has in mind!!

[Nick Armstrong]

I always have such difficulty accepting the fact that La Mer was inspired by Debussy's holiday in Eastbourne! Not exactly the image one has in mind!!

Here is an Image of where he was when he wrote it... http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...237#post319237 I made a little pilgrimage last summer!

A few posts up on that thread is a fuzzy picture I took of the door to his suite.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I always have such difficulty accepting the fact that La Mer was inspired by Debussy's holiday in Eastbourne! Not exactly the image one has in mind!!

IIRC, Debussy merely completed writing out the score whilst staying there.

Cracking photo, Cali - brought back memories of many a (very expensive) afternoon tea.

[verismissimo]

IIRC, Debussy merely completed writing out the score whilst staying there.

Cracking photo, Cali - brought back memories of many a (very expensive) afternoon tea.

I used to stay there weekends when I played in a band in the town in the 1960s. Our "manager" was the son of the manager of the Grand. The head butler used to cook breakfast for us on Sunday mornings.

Tough life.

[akiralx]

Yeah. When he wasn't imagining and composing sounds, Debussy could be a real twerp.

Brendel called Grieg's output as 'music for chambermaids', according to Richter's memoirs...

[MickyD]

Here is an Image of where he was when he wrote it... http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...237#post319237 I made a little pilgrimage last summer!

A few posts up on that thread is a fuzzy picture I took of the door to his suite.

Thank you Caliban, I missed that posting of yours last year - it looks a very pleasant place indeed.

Ferneyhoughgeliebte - what does the abbreviation IIRC stand for?

[Nick Armstrong]

IIRC

"If I Recall Correctly" I think...

[Alison]

Hey Cali, you never did answer the Eastbourne breakfast question.

So ... Full English or continental? Thanks.