Debussy: 12 Etudes

Claude Debussy (Composer), Mitsuko Uchida (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Mitsuko Uchida
• Composer: Claude Debussy
• Audio CD (February 5, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000410F
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,806 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les 'cinq doigts' (d'apres Monsieur Czerny)

2. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Tierces

3. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Quartes

4. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Sixtes

5. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Octaves

6. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les huit doigts

7. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Degres chromatiques

8. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Agrements

9. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Notes repetees

10. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Sonorites opposees

11. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Arpeges composes

12. Douze Etudes pour Piano: Pour les Accords

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Debussy's Études are really the only set that deserves to be put beside Chopin's. What makes them so special? Like his, they are truly "practice pieces," systematically exploring various aspects of keyboard technique. But at the same time, they are poetic works of art, full of fantasy, charm, and musical invention. Uchida's recording is almost universally regarded as the finest version of these works to appear in modern times. Her playing combines effortless virtuosity with pianistic precision, keeping the music's artistic and pedagogical tendencies in a state of exquisite tension. This disc also established Uchida's claim to be recognized as one of the most interesting and talented pianists now active. You need to hear it. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging Music; A Landmark Recording, December 4, 1998

By 

Ed Brickell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Debussy: 12 Etudes (Audio CD)

The Penguin Guide calls this recording of Debussy's endlessly fascinating Etudes "one of the best recordings of the instrument (piano)." They're probably not far from wrong. The difficulties of faithfully reproducing the sound of such a seemingly uncomplicated instrument as a piano are well known to recording engineers. Philips has surmounted those challenges with one of the finest sounding piano recordings I've ever heard.

Factor in the effortless-sounding but intellecutally stimulating skills of Uchida and a set of piano works which no less a composer than Stravinsky considered his favorite 20th-century piano music, and you have a hands-down winner of a disc.

Buy it today.

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEBUSSY THE ALCHEMIST, July 20, 2000

By 

Melvyn M. Sobel "Melvyn M. Sobel" (Freeport, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Debussy: 12 Etudes (Audio CD)

Hardly the most popular of Debussy's music for piano, these 12 Etudes, his last compositions for the instrument, are the very essence and substance of his art. Everything Debussy ever composed for the piano is literally "distilled" in twelve "studies" that, like magic, form a magnificent primer enabling us to unlock his artistic psyche and gaze even more deeply than ever before into his genius. Each etude is a "key." Music like this, which has virtually languished unrecorded for the most part, aside from "complete" collections of Debussy's piano works, we listen to now, anew, awed, enlightened, humbled. Uchida's performance is nothing less than incredible. Under her fingers, these neglected pieces jump to life, vital and telling, moody and nostalgic. Her musical understanding of these works is so penetrating she melds with Debussy... and, then, resurrects him. It's impossible to listen to these 12 Etudes and deny feeling the tangible "presence" of the composer. This is thrilling, wondrous, utterly captivating pianism fully realized by the Philips engineers.

[Running time: 47:12]

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mainly for pianophiles, March 11, 2006

By 

Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Debussy: 12 Etudes (Audio CD)

Just to add a caveat to the other reviews for the novice listener exploring Debussy's solo piano music ... If you have seen the many music-press accolades for this "landmark" recording (Penguin 'Rosette' etc) but are newer to Debussy's music, this may not be the best place to start. Debussy composed these works late in life to leave a "framework" of the new musical sounds and techniques he pioneered. For those not familiar with French, "Etude" refers to a lesson or educational excersise. Thus, the structure and intent here is pedagogic and not as much to paint those famous "impressionistic soundscapes" as in much of Debussy's music. As a result, this collection of 12 "lessons" will appeal more to the pianophile, student or true Debussy fan.

Mitsuko Uchida plays these pieces with a seamless precision and crystalline clarity, employing impressive velocity of passage work. Her sound is enhanced too by a brilliant Phillips' engineering session. Whether her readings here are considered "overdriven" will depend on how you think the music should best be played. Regardless, its hard not be amazed with her playing here. Additionally, her dynamic range is wide (pp-ff) which might not appeal to the casual listener not familiar with this music. I cannot say I enjoyed this music as much as the other Debussy recordings in my collection. The Etudes are less "accessible" compared to his other piano works and tends to need more study to fully appreciate perhaps (hence, "Etude"). So, those newer to Debussy and looking for those dreamy, "atmospheric" washes of chromatic colour should consider his Images (Book 1,2), Etampes and Preludes instead. There are many fine recordings of these - but Paul Jacobs' famous sets would be one solid, affordable choice.