Debussy: Images I / Images II / Children's Corner / Suite Bergamasque / Deux Arabesques [Import]

Debussy (Artist), Helffer (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 14, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B0000007LD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,205 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Images I: Reflets dans l'eau

2. Images I: Hommage a Rameua

3. Images I: Mouvement

4. Images II: Cloches a travers les feuilles

5. Images II: Et la lune descend sur le temps qui fut

6. Images II: Poissons d'or

7. Children's Corner: Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum

8. Children's Corner: Jimbo's Lullaby

9. Children's Corner: Serenade For The Doll

10. Children's Corner: The Snow Is Dancing

11. Children's Corner: The Little Shepherd

12. Children's Corner: Golliwogg's Cake Walk

13. Suite Bergamasque: Prelude

14. Suite Bergamasque: Menuet

15. Suite Bergamasque: Clair de lune

16. Suite Bergamasque: Passepied

17. Deux Arabesques: Premiere arabesque

18. Deux Arabesques: Deuxieme arabesque

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD is Essential!!!, May 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Debussy: Images I / Images II / Children's Corner / Suite Bergamasque / Deux Arabesques (Audio CD)

I have never heard these pieces played better!!!! Claude Helffer is one of the most under-rated pianists ever. His performance of "Mouvement" was captivating. Golliwogs Cake-Walk was played with just enough humour(some of my recordings of the piece go overboard).The Arabesques were charming.His tempos taken for Suite Begamasque were just right. He has an excellent understanding of Debussy's style.

It is unfortunate that he didn't record the rest of Debussy's piano works.

To sum it up, I very strongly recommend buying this CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Giant, April 15, 2006

By 

Yi HW "ape2man" (a cosmopolitan bound by the ROK nationality) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Debussy: Images I / Images II / Children's Corner / Suite Bergamasque / Deux Arabesques (Audio CD)

I happily agree with the previous reviewer. This one is the best set available.

Helffer chooses rather fast tempo and feather-light touch as Robert Casadesus, his masterful teacher, did.

However, it is far from the 'rush and hurry' approach by Thibaudet and over-softened Roge.

Moreover, Helffer intelligently uses rubato to keep his performance individual and creative which composer himself wanted from performer.

If you love the sets by Francois and Michelangeli but sometimes feel radical and eccentric or cold and too-much-calculated, give a chance to this late French giant on the 20th century's music. You'll be satisfied.