Debussy Piano Music

[teamsaint]

Looking to short cut the research route again ! I am looking for suggestions for a good complete Piano music, or any other top recommendations for the Preludes, Estampes etc .. ....must haves, great value..throw them this way!


Thanks.
TS

Edit, couldn't find anything on the BAL forum...hope I didn't miss anything there!

[vinteuil]

My recommendations:

Debussy l'œuvre pour piano / complete works for piano : Alain Planès ; harmonia mundi ; 5 CD. Some are on Steinways; the Preludes on a lovely 1897 Bechstein; Images, Children's Corner, Suite Bergamasque on a differently lovely 1902 Blüthner

Debussy l' œuvre pour piano / the piano works : Philippe Cassard ; decca ; 4 CD. Using a 2009 Steinway and an 1898 Bechstein.

Debussy: Images, Études : Jean-Yves Thibaudet ; decca ; 2 CD, Steinway
Debussy: Préludes : Jean-Yves Thibaudet ; decca / london ; 2 CD, Steinway

[gradus]

Pascal Roget's 2 cd Decca set incl Estampes and Preludes and much else besides is never out of my car. I think Mitsuko Uchida's Studies is now at middle price too. If ever Cedric Thibergien records the Preludes I'll make a bee-line as his R3 performance a year or two back stays with me.

[HighlandDougie]

I strongly endorse Vinteuil's recommendations - I was listening yesterday with great pleasure to the Cassard Préludes and to Planès in the Images - but you might have to go to Amazon France for the former and the latter is not all that cheap (but worth every penny). Gieseking was for a long time a benchmark in this repertoire - and, especially in its most recent SACD re-incarnation, is well worth anyone's money - but, even with careful remastering, the recording does sound fairly elderly. My suggestion, especially as it has just appeared as a complete set (and you get a fifth disc with Khamma, Jeux and La Boîte à joujoux), is Jean-Efflam Bavouzet on Chandos. While I have no doubt that there may be preferable versions of individual works, at around £30 on Amazon Marketplace, it is hard to beat. Excellent recordings, the Potton Hall Steinway, handsome packaging and very good notes by Roger Nichols and J-E B himself make this an excellent candidate for an early Christmas present for yourself.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

èGordon Fergus-Thompson (used to be on ASV, now on BRILLIANT) is excellent;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Complete-Piano-Gordon-Fergus-Thompson/dp/B007X8ZE4O/ref=sr_1_10?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1351958034&sr=1-10

... and Walter Gieseking's Mono set remains very special:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Complete-Works-Walter-Gieseking/dp/B005EVV5I6/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1351958661&sr=1-4

(I don't know this REGIS transfer, but the EMI set was excellent, if more expensive:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Comp...1958780&sr=1-2)

I am very tempted by the Planès set mentioned by vinteuil in #2: this will probably be my third set!

[teamsaint]

I strongly endorse Vinteuil's recommendations - I was listening yesterday with great pleasure to the Cassard Préludes and to Planès in the Images - but you might have to go to Amazon France for the former and the latter is not all that cheap (but worth every penny). Gieseking was for a long time a benchmark in this repertoire - and, especially in its most recent SACD re-incarnation, is well worth anyone's money - but, even with careful remastering, the recording does sound fairly elderly. My suggestion, especially as it has just appeared as a complete set (and you get a fifth disc with Khamma, Jeux and La Boîte à joujoux), is Jean-Efflam Bavouzet on Chandos. While I have no doubt that there may be preferable versions of individual works, at around £30 on Amazon Marketplace, it is hard to beat. Excellent recordings, the Potton Hall Steinway, handsome packaging and very good notes by Roger Nichols and J-E B himself make this an excellent candidate for an early Christmas present for yourself.

Not ignoring all the great advice, which I am reading with great interest....but it just HAS to be time for a "Xmas list" thread !! Shall I start it ?!

Keep them coming...thanks all.

[Northender]

I have Tirimo's complete Preludes on Regis - velly good, velly cheap, useful liner notes by the artiste.

[VodkaDilc]

Looking to short cut the research route again ! I am looking for suggestions for a good complete Piano music,

Bavouzet on Chandos

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

but it just HAS to be time for a "Xmas list" thread !! Shall I start it ?!

Oh, yes, do! What with the "New Releases", "Bargains", "Neglected Brits", our own BaLs I was really looking for another set of ideas to get rid of all this superfluous dosh I don't have!!!




Actually, if you do, please call it "Get thee behind me, Santa"!

[Lateralthinking1]

Looking to short cut the research route again ! I am looking for suggestions for a good complete Piano music, or any other top recommendations for the Preludes, Estampes etc .. ....must haves, great value..throw them this way!

Thanks.
TS

Edit, couldn't find anything on the BAL forum...hope I didn't miss anything there!

That's good. It saves me asking the question.

I have Pascal Roge on CD but it's Satie. I very much like it but I feel less certain with Debussy. It will be interesting to see how this thread develops.

[teamsaint]

Oh, yes, do! What with the "New Releases", "Bargains", "Neglected Brits", our own BaLs I was really looking for another set of ideas to get rid of all this superfluous dosh I don't have!!!




Actually, if you do, please call it "Get thee behind me, Santa"!

good points, but I was kinda looking for incoming goodies at zero cost !! all in the spirit of the season, of course.
GREAT title thread...going to have to start it now ...!!

[vinteuil]

Actually, if you do, please call it "Get thee behind me, Santa"!

Please - this is a Radio 3 messageboard. It should be "Vade retro, Santa!"

.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Please - this is a Radio 3 messageboard. It should be "Vade retro, Santa!"

I would have been a High Court Judge, but ...

[Northender]

Please - this is a Radio 3 messageboard. It should be "Vade retro, Santa!"

.

In which case, may I just say, 'Noli me tangere' i.e. 'Give Piazzolla a rest'

[Pianorak]

èGordon Fergus-Thompson (used to be on ASV, now on BRILLIANT) is excellent;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Complete-Piano-Gordon-Fergus-Thompson/dp/B007X8ZE4O/ref=sr_1_10?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1351958034&sr=1-10

... and Walter Gieseking's Mono set remains very special:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Complete-Works-Walter-Gieseking/dp/B005EVV5I6/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1351958661&sr=1-4

(I don't know this REGIS transfer, but the EMI set was excellent, if more expensive:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Comp...1958780&sr=1-2)

If you want cheap and cheerful that's really all you need. Would also recommend Alain Planès as well as Paul Jacobs: Preludes books I & II on Nonesuch which I picked up for a song - but checking on Amazon just now I see it's gone up a bit.