Satie: Piano Works

Erik Satie (Composer), Aldo Ciccolini (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Aldo Ciccolini
• Composer: Erik Satie
• Audio CD (January 23, 1992)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002SBP
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,755 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( C ) > Ciccolini, Aldo
  #5 in	Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Baroque Dance Suites > Sarabande
  #28 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( S ) > Satie, Erik

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Oeuvres Pour Piano: Gymnopedie I

2. Oeuvres Pour Piano: Gymnopedie II

3. Oeuvres Pour Piano: Gymnopedie III

4. Oeuvres Pour Piano: Les Trois Valses distinguées du précieux dégoûté I: Sa taille

5. Oeuvres Pour Piano: II: Son binocle

6. Oeuvres Pour Piano: III: Ses jambes

7. Oeuvres Pour Piano: Trois Gnossiennes: I Lent

8. Oeuvres Pour Piano: II Avec étonnement

9. Oeuvres Pour Piano: III Lent

10. Oeuvres Pour Piano: Trois Gnossiennes: IV Lent

See all 32 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Jack In The Box: Prelude

2. Jack In The Box: Entracte

3. Jack In The Box: Final

4. Sports et Divertissements: Choral inappetissant

5. Sports et Divertissements: La Balançoire

6. Sports et Divertissements: La Chasse

7. Sports et Divertissements: La Comédie italienne

8. Sports et Divertissements: Le Réveil de la Mariée

9. Sports et Divertissements: Colin-Maillard

10. Sports et Divertissements: La Pêche

See all 60 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's simple: in his various realizations of the piano music of Erik Satie, Aldo Ciccolini set a standard that has yet to be bettered. This compilation, drawn from recordings made between 1966 and 1971, is consequently the best of the best. Ciccolini always played Satie's music as though it had been written by Claude Debussy, not by some cheap charlatan or uneducated primitive (which, to an extent that is still debatable, Satie was). The result is that these seemingly simple piano pieces acquire a tonal allure that is as surprising as it is undeniable. They possess an understated sophistication that points directly toward Ravel and Poulenc, at the same time providing an opening to the minimalist aesthetic of the later 20th century. Ciccolini's playing is pliant and graceful, and under his fingers the music seems to breathe and come alive. What more could a composer or a listener want? --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And now for something different, August 7, 2001

By	Steven J. Bissell (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Erik Satie was a bit of a rebel and his influence is probably more noticed today than during his life. His composition often sound more like jazz of the 1990s than classical music of the late 1800s. Even in his titles he rebeled against the trend to give compositions sweet titles and chose instead such things as "Jack in the Box," or "dried fetuses." His intent was not, in my opinion, to shock, as his music is not at all shocking, but to jar the musical establishment away for from "traditional" thinking.

This recording is, to my knowledge, one of the few with all of the sixty piano pieces. Usually a few are left out. Aldo Ciccolini does a marvelous job on this music. There is no attempt to doll it up with unnecessary flourishes, all of the pieces are played straight ahead.

This music is not for everyone. However, if you have an interest in very good piano music and an appreciation for the roots of modern music, you will love these CDs.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pure magic, July 27, 2000

By	Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

For my taste, no one comes close to interpreting Satie as superbly as Aldo Ciccolini. He plays with such purity, delicacy and feeling, and strength and power when the music calls for it. My favorite Satie compositions are the "Gnossiennes" and here you get all 6 of these exquisite pieces (most CDs only have the first 3) played to perfection. The enclosed booklet says that "Satie escapes all definition and classification". He was truly one of a kind, inimitable, inspiring...there is a corner of my soul that only Satie can satisfy. On the practical side, this CD set has nearly 2 1/2 hours of music at a great price on amazon.com, and the case has 2 separate sections, not one of those annoying flaps to lift in order to get out the 2nd disc. This is a terrific package from every angle, and if you like Satie, this one's a must to own.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's only one., June 25, 2004

By	Eric Stewart (Camas, WA United States) - See all my reviews

If you're reading this, you've already heard Satie's music, so I needn't to go into that. I do want to say that this is the only recording of Satie that is worth hearing. Ciccolini is the only foot that will fit the Satie glass slipper. Don't waste your money on the ugly step-sisters.