Customer Reviews

Vlado Perlemuter Plays Ravel

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It is easy to put off buying this set when looking at the recording date (1955) and the fact the sound was originally monaural. Don't make that mistake. These are Ravel performances of the very highest order. For me Perlemuter is to Ravel's piano music what Gieseking is to Debussy's. Even in the 2 concertos Perlemuter and Jascha Horenstein (was he inspired by Perlemuter?}reach new heights. The sound is good enough to bring out every nuance. every subtlety. 155 minutes of suberb music at the price of one medium priced CD is quite a bargain.

This is the finest recording of Ravel's piano works available. Don't let the price and relative obscurity of the artist fool you. Perlemuter is unequaled when it comes to Ravel.

NOTE (Jan 2011): Perlemuter's second recording of Ravel's piano music (on the Nimbus label, and, at the moment, in stock on amazon, is even better than this recording... get that one instead, if you can.

I can only echo the other reviewers' sentiments.

I thought I only sort of liked Ravel's piano concerti until I listened to this set. (I also have de La Roccha (sp) w/ St. Louis--not more than competent all around, and another Vox recording that was miserably recorded). Wow. The beauty of the piano playing, the admirable conducting, the orchestral contributions...all make for a wonderful Ravel experience.

Ditto the performance of the piano pieces (well, I guess we'll have to omit the orchestra and conductor from the bravos here!).

A WONDERFUL set.

These are mono, but who cares. You shouldn't!!!

This is simply Ravel as it's supposed to be played( at least according to Ravel himself). Indeed, Perlemuter had the opportunity to study the complete piano works of Ravel with the composer. It's quite a shame that Vlado Perlemuter is not known better (he's not even included in the otherwise great series "Legendary pianists of the 20th Century"). His relative obscurity might have to do with his lifelong dedication to teaching (at the Paris Conservatoire). At this same institution he studied the little-known piano works of Faure (former director of the institute) with the composer himself. Also made very good recordings of Chopin, and some Schumann (Kreisleriana + Symphonic Studies), this time without the composers listening. I guess you just have to listen for yourself. I guess if you don't like these interpretations of Ravel you just don't like the works themselves...

I first bought this collection on vinyl in a Vox Box and listened to it constantly. I was so touched and impressed by Perlemuter's playing that I hoped to study with him while I was a student in Paris. However, as luck would have it, he was away that year, so I never had that privilege.

When I saw that this had been re-issued on CD, I was delighted. I own nine versions of the complete Ravel piano works, the best of which are by Simon, Tharaud, Hewitt, Bavouzet on a lovely 1901 Steinway, and Roger Muraro (it was his recording that Joyce Hatto took credit for!). And yes, Francois' concertos and Gaspard are classics, too. All of these performers seem to understand the particular qualities of Ravel's style, and their performances contain many fine moments.

This, however, is the version I keep coming back to. Of course, it's the first one I knew, and it's certainly imprinted on me. But it's more than that. Perlemuter's interpretation is straightforward and unfussy, and it succeeds in presenting this music with a clarity and focus that reveal each piece's individual personality. I believe there's also a humility in Perlemuter's attitude towards music that allows him to stand back and reveal the music on its own terms. Such an attitude is arguably the goal of all interpretation, but it's certainly the ideal way to perform the subtle, Apollonian style of Ravel.

Very highly recommended, and the price is a bargain.

This is simply Ravel as it's supposed to be played( at least according to Ravel himself). Indeed, Perlemuter had the opportunity to study the complete piano works of Ravel with the composer. It's quite a shame that Vlado Perlemuter is not known better (he's not even included in the otherwise great series "Legendary pianists of the 20th Century"). His relative obscurity might have to do with his lifelong dedication to teaching (at the Paris Conservatoire). At this same institution he studied the little-known piano works of Faure (former director of the institute) with the composer himself. Also made very good recordings of Chopin, and some Schumann (Kreisleriana + Symphonic Studies), this time without the composers listening. I guess you just have to listen for yourself. I guess if you don't like these interpretations of Ravel you just don't like the works themselves...

This is a steal! It is one of the finest performances of all of the works! I may like Samson François concertos and Gaspard de la nuit, but this set is still stunning! Great touch and control, amazing tone and a great sound recording (1955). The Miroirs and Le Tombeau de Couperin are artfully read and interpreted. If you like these pieces... This will make you love them. If you love these pieces... This will be a real treat. And for the price, you almost feel like you are dong something wrong when you buy it. A great investment for the serious listener.

Perlemuter in my opinion is the best interpreter of Ravel, Perlemuter studied the piano works of Ravel with the own Ravel.

These most beautiful recordings manage to be lyrical without sentimentality--the way I think Ravel would have liked them recorded. I even prefer them to those of Casadesus. In fact, these are my favorite recordings of 19th century French piano music. Perlemuter has two recordings of Faure's piano music that are equally impressive--try first the version on Erato (or at least not the Nimbus recording--which is also quite good).

I found his Schumann recordings to be less impressive--his style didn't quite fit. However these recordings of Ravel are unmatched.