CD-Charts Position 1
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Debussy: Images I & II; Children's Corner; Préludes

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date January 01, 1998
High water marks often shift with the tide of time, but others have survived decades of competition. The Michelangeli iterations of Debussy's work (recorded in 1971 and 1978 for the works included here) simply are definitive -- as attested to not only by all salient critical opinion, but by the major prizes this recording had won at its release. The colors, the balances, are amazing -- there are times as if Michelangeli were playing on two different pianos at once (one close by and strong, the other situated in another room played quietly) -- and this, on lines that crossed one another! Astounding control, and a totally thought-out interpretation that causes all others to seem flat and uninflected by comparison.

There is a fair ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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The Romantic Piano, Vol. 2

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: CBC

Release Date July 01, 2001
High water marks often shift with the tide of time, but others have survived decades of competition. The Michelangeli iterations of Debussy's work (recorded in 1971 and 1978 for the works included here) simply are definitive -- as attested to not only by all salient critical opinion, but by the major prizes this recording had won at its release. The colors, the balances, are amazing -- there are times as if Michelangeli were playing on two different pianos at once (one close by and strong, the other situated in another room played quietly) -- and this, on lines that crossed one another! Astounding control, and a totally thought-out interpretation that causes all others to seem flat and uninflected by comparison.

There is a fair ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Debussy: Préludes

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Hyperion UK

Release Date October 10, 2006
Claudio Arrau's classic recordings of Debussy's preludes from the late 1970's are the yardstick by which I measure other readings of these works. They are still my first choice, however, Steven Osborne has delivered a very convincing set of preludes that are beautifully recorded. He has a genuine feel for this music and his readings, while often brisker than Arrau's, are appropriately impressionistic but with a little more bite to them. Osborne's technical equipment is exceptional and he sails through the tougher passages without a hint of effort, yet unlike many young pianists you never feel that his technique is deliberately on display. His treatments tend to be somewhat straightforward (but not prosaic) where Arrau lingers over details, as he ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Debussy, Ravel: Piano Works

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Naxos

Release Date January 01, 2004
Claudio Arrau's classic recordings of Debussy's preludes from the late 1970's are the yardstick by which I measure other readings of these works. They are still my first choice, however, Steven Osborne has delivered a very convincing set of preludes that are beautifully recorded. He has a genuine feel for this music and his readings, while often brisker than Arrau's, are appropriately impressionistic but with a little more bite to them. Osborne's technical equipment is exceptional and he sails through the tougher passages without a hint of effort, yet unlike many young pianists you never feel that his technique is deliberately on display. His treatments tend to be somewhat straightforward (but not prosaic) where Arrau lingers over details, as he ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Claude Debussy: Préludes, Book 1

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Polygram Records

Release Date October 25, 1990
This is a pianist who has a style of playing and makes the music fit it. The lower end of the dynamic range is ignored, and the touch throughout is crystalline, bright and percussive, never really legato and caressing. A formidable technique does not compensate for not searching for subtlety, nuance and implication.
The only mystery in his playing is why he chose to record Debussy.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Debussy: Piano Music

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Naxos

Release Date February 15, 1994
Debussy: Piano Music
Suite bergamasque / La Plus que lente / Images / Deux Arabesques / Prludes I et II
Klára Körmendi
Naxos NX 8.550253
Recorded November 1988 at the Italian Institute in Budapest, Hungary.

Although I could imagine a slightly more brilliant performance recorded with slightly purer sound, this Naxos offering from 1988 by Hungarian pianist Klára Körmendi is, from the standpoint of a non-pianist listener at any rate, a thoroughly satisfying introduction to Debussy's piano works. The character of the individual pieces is worked out very clearly, and Ms. Körmendi appears to have no technical difficulties whatsoever, so that a beginner such as myself can get the feel of these compositions without being distracted ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Debussy: Complete Solo Piano Works

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Denon Records

Release Date August 01, 1996
Debussy: Piano Music
Suite bergamasque / La Plus que lente / Images / Deux Arabesques / Prludes I et II
Klára Körmendi
Naxos NX 8.550253
Recorded November 1988 at the Italian Institute in Budapest, Hungary.

Although I could imagine a slightly more brilliant performance recorded with slightly purer sound, this Naxos offering from 1988 by Hungarian pianist Klára Körmendi is, from the standpoint of a non-pianist listener at any rate, a thoroughly satisfying introduction to Debussy's piano works. The character of the individual pieces is worked out very clearly, and Ms. Körmendi appears to have no technical difficulties whatsoever, so that a beginner such as myself can get the feel of these compositions without being distracted ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Panorama: Claude Debussy

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date September 26, 2000
Clocking in at more than two-and-a-half hours of music by Debussy, this is one of the best collections of his music that money can buy. It includes definitive performances of his most popular symphonic, chamber, and solo piano works. Michelangeli, for instance, is known for, above all, his interpretations of Debussy. Gramophone magazine says of these recordings "Michelangeli subjects each note to the last refinements of shading and places it with hairsbreadth precision." Throughout their mature careers, Rostropovich and Britten were frequent collaborators in the repertory for cello and piano, including this very work. (Britten dedicated his solo cello suites to Rostropovich.) The Melos' recording of Debussy's String Quartet is among the best available, and better ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Debussy: Preludes, Vol. 1 / L'isle joyeux

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date November 09, 1999
I had believed musique francais played by non French musicians does not deserve to listen to for very long time, for over ten years. I have so many favorites non French musicians but when they play French music, it is music but not musique francais. I had been seeing there is much difference between played by French and by non French. I don't still figure out why, anyway.

However when I listen to this CD, what I felt was like, "Mervelleux! super!". I didn't expect that quiality. I bought the CD because of feeling like "Pollini plays Debussy? Interesting, OK, buy it". That is it. I never expected much. However he struck me again as he had with his Stravinsky and Boulez.

Pollini has been my dearest pianist fo far. Needless to say his playing is clear ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Claude Debussy: Préludes

Search: Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
by: Claude Debussy, Krystian Zimerman

Release Date March 22, 1994
Debussy is my favorite composer and my music collection is home to multiple versions of every one of his important works. This recording was not welcome there for very long. While many have found great pleasure in Zimerman's traversal of the preludes -Gramophone magazine placed it in its "100 greatest recordings of all time" edition- I was not at all pleased with the harsh sound of the DG recording, which robs the music of whatever charm Zimerman may have to offer, and I have since unburdened myself of this expensive set with absolutely no regrets. I know other Debussy lovers who had a similar reaction. To quote the more reliable Penguin Guide: "There is more than a hint of hardness in climaxes...some may find the level of intensity too much to live with." If you must find out for ... Read More: