Complete Piano Music of Maurice Ravel [Original recording remastered]

Maurice Ravel (Composer), Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), Robert Casadesus (Performer), Gaby Casadesus (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Robert Casadesus, Gaby Casadesus
• Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: Eugene Ormandy
• Composer: Maurice Ravel
• Audio CD (June 16, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000007QCI
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,061 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #80 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Forms & Genres > Sonatas

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Pavane pour une infante défunte, for piano (or orchestra)

2. Ŕ la maničre de. . . , for piano: Ŕ la maničre de Chabrier

3. Ŕ la maničre de. . . , for piano: A la maniere de Borodine

4. Sonatine for piano in F sharp minor: No. 1, Modere

5. Sonatine for piano in F sharp minor: No. 2, Mouvement de Menuet

6. Sonatine for piano in F sharp minor: No. 3, Anime

7. Miroirs, for piano (or orchestra): No. 1, Noctuelles

8. Miroirs, for piano (or orchestra): No. 2, Oiseaux tristes

9. Miroirs, for piano (or orchestra): No. 3, Une barque sur l'ocean

10. Miroirs, for piano (or orchestra): No. 4, Alborada del gracioso

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano: Prelude

2. Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano: Fugue

3. Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano: Forlane

4. Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano: Rigaudon

5. Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano: Menuet

6. Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano: Toccata

7. Valses (8) nobles et sentimentales, for piano (or orchestra)

8. Menuet antique, for piano (or orchestra)

9. Gaspard de la nuit, for piano: No. 1, Ondine

10. Gaspard de la nuit, for piano: No. 2, Le gibet

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History, Art, Science, Friendship, March 8, 2005

By 

Chris Shingledecker (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Piano Music of Maurice Ravel (Audio CD)

How do I admire this recording, let me count the ways... (please pardon the awful Elizabeth Barret Browning misquote) To begin with, on the pianist, Robert Casadesus, other than Ravel himself, he is the premier interpreter of his work. Not only that, he was also a close friend and one of the few present at Ravel's meager funeral.

On the recordings themselves, they are of a superlative quality. What many interpreters today try to do is make a melodrama of everything. They forget that the composer himself drew inspiration from the machines of the time (his father was an engineer) and thus lose some of the forcefulness and directness of the works. Unfortunately, many today try to drown them in fluff and emotion.

Another added benefit of these recordings is the convenience of having them all in one set, digitally remastered of course. As a Ravel fan , I heartily recommend these to all who admire the composer, the pianist, or most importantly, beautiful music.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Interpretation, March 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Piano Music of Maurice Ravel (Audio CD)

This is the best recording of Ravel for piano! It is full of the sensitive nuance that french impressionistic music requires. I had this recording on LP, and am ecstatic to find it is now available on CD. I had bought another full CD recording by another highly regarded pianist which is not of the same caliber of playing as the Casadesus. I cannot do without the Casadesus recording!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible performances of incredible works, December 30, 2005

By 

Gordon Schermer "pianoman83" (Champaign, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Piano Music of Maurice Ravel (Audio CD)

While arguments about what is the definitive recording of these works can be made, it goes without saying that this recording is of tremendous musical value. Even if I don't particularly like a tempo that Casadesus chooses (particularly the last movement of the Sonatine), the performance still remains marvelously musical and true to the composer. Much of the playing is quite thrilling actually (take Scarbo, for example). Jeux d'eau is gorgeous as is the Tombeau de Couperin. I believe the highlight of the set is the bonus addition of the Left Hand Concerto with Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Simply put...it is SPECTACULAR! Casadesus' command of the piano, as well as Ormandy's command of the orchestra, is masterful and moving. I highly recommend this set to anyone with a broad appreciation for musical interpretation.