Customer Reviews

Jean-Yves Thibaudet ~ Debussy - complete piano works, vol. 1

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After growing up listening to the classic, but dated Debussy recordings by Walter Gieseking and Maurizio Pollini, I had longed for a modern interpretation of these works with current recording technology and a young pianist. These desires were manifested in this collection of Debussy's piano works, as performed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet. From an interpretation perspective, the quality that struck most convincing was that of Thibaudet's ability to create an authentic "impressionistic" atmosphere. While his finger dexterity is flawless and each note is audible, Thibaudet's blend of musical color and controlled pedaling truly create music. Every piece presented here falls on the ear as if it had never been heard before. These are truly the "great" recordings of Debussy's music of the current generation. The Preludes are played with such finesse and attention to detail. "L'isle joyeuse" is particularly wonderful. I highly recommend this recording; it's just wonderful to have the combination of first-rate Decca sound and a world-class artist.

Thibaudet's performances of the Debussy Preludes (all 24) is remarkable. For those already familiar with his work, this is not surprising. For newbies, you should give him a listen.

Thibaudet's expressiveness is breathtaking because he makes use of a wide dymanic palette, from hushed pianissimos (very soft tones) to masculine fortissimos (very loud tones). Debussy's octaves ring out with crystal clarity, his lush chords sparkle with all the color a good Steinway has to offer, and his single note passages are always clear and well-shaped. Thibaudet clearly understands Debussy, and his phrasing is exceptional.

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM (along with a similar by Krystian Zimerman, though it does have occasional background sounds--of the creaking bench and of Zimerman's heavy breathing). The Thibaudet set includes three CD's, by the way, so that you get other Debussy works besides the Preludes.

The Penguin Guide to CDs and DVDs has Thibaudet's sets of the complete Debussy solo piano music at the top of the digital recordings, and this is certainly high quality.

We have several recordings of the Preludes and some other works, but there is nothing to come close to Thibaudet for great performances and superior recording quality.

The liner notes are very helpful, and in the first set you get different articles in English, French, German and Italian. Great if you are multilingual, but only of marginal interest to me. The second set has one article and translations, not separate articles.

Well worth purchasing.

Thibaudet certainly has a great knack for playing French music. Perhaps it is because he is French himself, or perhaps it is because he has been blessed with a wonderful insight to piano music in general. I say this, because he brings such great musicianship to whatever he puts to record or performance. This two CD set of Debussy's Preludes exudes the personalities of both the composer and the pianist. Debussy, known as the great impressionist composer, delicately has painted numerous portraits in his preludes and this recording certainly does well at bringing them out. Technically, these pieces are played with virtuosity and clear attention to precision, clarity, and musicality. One of the best parts of this set is the a bonus CD of short interviews with Thibaudet in various languages where he himself explains what he has brought to the table in playing these pieces and what insights he had in mind when approaching these pieces.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet performs the piano works of Debussy with a warmth and passion that display a true understanding of the music. His ability to play each piece with individual attention showcases his talent and flair for the piano and his obvious love for fellow countryman Debussy's compositions for solo piano.
Thibaudet began playing the piano at 5, learning from his mother, apparently an accomplished pianist herself. The prodigy gave his first public performance at age 7 and performed with an orchestra for the first time at the age of 11 where he was awarded for his performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G, no small task. The wonder that is Thibaudet is also able to play the violin and, from what I understand, hopes to conduct.

Thibaudet's understanding and interpretation of Debussy's work show an exquisite gift for not only playing, but also feeling the music. This entire set (I highly recommend Debussy - Complete works for Piano, Vol. 2 to round out the collection of Debussy's wonderful compositions for piano) is a feast for the ears, a delightful foray in to the music of one of the master French Impressionists.

Debussy had a flair for the musically strange, the untried, the unexplored. He experimented with sound and atonality often with great success; some would argue otherwise, but I love Debussy's creative streak. The man was unorthodox, naming his Piano Concerto a 'Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra' and often naming his pieces as he wanted the piece interpreted; that is to say, he wrote tone poems, he just didn't call them that.

Offered on this double disc set are 13 of Debussy's compositions for piano; several are from larger groups of pieces:
***Preludes, Book 1 - Amazing collection of 12 pieces, 2 I would consider well known ('La fille aux chevaux de lin' or 'The girl with the flaxen hair' and 'La Cathedrale engloutie' or 'The Sunken {or 'Englufed'} Cathedral). Debussy composed these pieces as 'tone poems' though he didn't identify them as such and intended that each be performed as an individual piece, not grouped together. All are vivid in their poetic representation of the titles.
***Estampes (literally 'Embossment', but figuratively, and a more accurate description, 'impressions', like wooden or metal reliefs) - Three pieces, 1. 'Pagodes' ('Pagodos'), 2. 'La soiree dans Grenade' ('An evening in Grenada'), and 3. 'Jardins sous la pluie' ('Gardens in the rain'). As with Preludes this is a group of 'tone poems'. All 3 are superb.
***Preludes, Book 2 - Another collection of 12 pieces composed as 'tone poems'. I had not heard any of these pieces until I purchased this set, but all are wonderful. Like Book 1, each piece was composed with the intention of being an individual piece, representing a visual.
***'Images inedites' (literally 'unseen images') - One of several compositions that Debussy entitled 'Images', thus increasing his volume of works that were 'tone poems' but not named such.
***'Pour le piano' (perhaps obviously, 'For a piano') - 3 pieces, Prelude and Toccatta are quick, where Sarabande is much slower and far more enjoyable, in my humble opinion.
*****Deux Arabesques - Simply Amazing! In my humble opinion these are some of the most incomparable pieces ever composed for piano; beautiful.

The remaining pieces are stand-alone compositions for solo piano:
**Reverie ('Daydream(ing)') - Another 'tone poem'. If the Arabesques are amazing, 'Reverie' is absolute perfection.
**Masques ('Masks') - Yet another 'tone poem'. Fast paced and uplifting.
**'L'isle joyeuse' ('The Joyous Isle') - Again, a 'tone poem'; quite playful and enjoyable.
**D'un cahier d'esquisses' (literally 'From a sketchbook') - Again, a 'tone poem'; slow, soft and beautiful.
***'Morceau de Concours' ('Piece for Concerts') - Oddly, Debussy composed this piece for a magazine which published works by 6 composers in a "name that composer" type competition. Some have drawn comparisons between this piece and Debussy's unfinished opera 'Le Diable dans le Beffroi' ('The Devil in the Bellfry').
***'Danse bohemienne' - Debussy's 1st published piece for solo piano, written when he was 18. It is straightforward and lacks the experimental quality that Debussy would later be known for, but is still enjoyable nonetheless.
***'Nocturne' - Surprisingly bright, this piece has moments of cascading notes that evoke images of more than a typical, often murky, nocturne.

I highly recommend this and the Vol. 2 as you cannot find a better collection, performed by a better pianist with better sound.

A third disc is included which has an interview with Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

I am a big fan of Jean-Yves playing(and a Debussy fan) so I enjoyed this recording. Piano style is a personal preference. (as a musician and pianist I know what I like and what I don't like and it is often not the same as what others prefer) If you enjoyed any other recordings by Jean-Yves or have seen him and concert and loved him you will enjoy this recording.

There are quite a few of Debussy's piano pieces that immediately ring a bell in the mind - Clair de Lune, Gollowog's Cake Walk, La Petite Negre, En Bateau, La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin, La Catedrale Engloutie, etc. These pieces are not, in my opinion, where Thibaudet shines, and make me wish I had a different set (but who's?) The Sunken Cathedral is quite nice, I admit. I will also say that he is quite listenable, whereas Geiseking (sp?) made me so angry I had spent $60 that I stopped buying classical cds for about 10 years.

On the other hand, Thibaudet does have technical mastery - the pieces with which I am less familiar, etudes especially (referring to vol. 2 of the set) are played, to my ears at least, very well, and in fact bring a smile to the face. There is no 'bad' playing anywhere, but the pieces in which I would have liked more musicality lead me to think that the others which I haven't developed an opinion on will sound better in other sets as well. The search continues. At least this set is a good bar.