Customer Reviews

Ibert: Complete Piano Music

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As a pianist my favorite composers of piano music have always been Debussy and Ravel which makes me already favorably disposed to this music. I was familiar with Ibert's Ports of Call which I liked very much but was not familiar with his piano music. I just came across this recording of his piano music and find these short pieces to be both poignant and delightful. They seem characteristically like earlier 20th century French piano music in their harmonic and melodic construction. The pianist Hae-Won Chang gives a fine performance of these pieces and appears to have a real feel for this music which I imagine is why she chose to record it.

The word "uninspired" is used diplomatically here; it's far worse. No matter how hard pianist Hae-Wong Chang tries, there is no way she can breathe life into these trifles. It's not her fault. All the sensuous flavor, the piquant coloring, the rich and distinctive atmosphere of Ibert's orchestral music remains conspicuously absent in his piano efforts. Now, considering that Ibert (1890-1962) had been a pupil of Faure, the lack of contrast, depth, ingenuity, melody and invention seems profoundly odd. Frankly, these "works" are so mundane, unfortunately, that you'd have to have the patience of Job to wade through them.

And, it's a long CD overflowing with pieces that titillate the eye, but not the ear: compositions with endearing names like Little Suite In Fifteen Pictures (with cute titles that lure you in, like, "Lullaby Under the Stars," "Sleigh Ride," "Romance," "Serenade on the Water" and "L'Adieu") or Stories For Piano ("A Giddy Girl," "In the Sad House," "Under the Table," etc.) and Encounters (Ballet Suite for Piano). Yet, all are sadly lacking in any kind of musical charm or content. These are not the genre pictures of MacDowell's Woodland Sketches, Grieg's Lyric Pieces, Schumann's Kinderscenen or Tchaikovsky's Album For The Young.

Massively disappointing music featuring an excellent pianist, excellent sound and playing time. But to what end? Well, I suppose, giving the devil his due, it was enterprising of Naxos to allow us the opportunity to "hear" these Ibert works, regardless of their merit or lack thereof. And I suppose, as well, that this matters equally.

[Running time: 68:12]

well, the first reviewer made this cd sound so bad, i had to hear it. and i was pleasantly surprised. it is made up of short, lively, lovely french piano pieces--as one might expect--ala satie or milhaud. i found them very delightful and have started playing them on the air ([...]). i found none of the objections of the previous reviewer. plus, ibert is not the most available composer, and so i recommend it--without reservation. go figure.