Editorial Reviews

This sampler disc from Naxos' series of the complete piano works of Debussy, performed by François-Joël Thiollier, features the most well-known of Debussy's pieces. Thiollier is well-versed in this literature, having recorded all of Ravel's piano works and several French piano and orchestra works for Naxos. What is notable here is not his ability to carefully control the tone color (which is not harmed by the slight distance and echoing of the recording's sound), but his phrasing and overall interpretation. The "Arabesque No. 1" is much more relaxed than others' versions, even in the accelerandos. In fact, in most of the works, he takes liberties with the music, usually putting in much more rubato than is normally heard. "The Snow Is Dancing" is more like "The Snow Is Floating Gently Down" in spots. The "Arabesque No. 2" and "Danse" have more rounded edges than bright sparkles. His interpretations are not necessarily bad-sounding, just unexpected and unusual, if you are at all familiar with these pieces, and it leaves you wondering why he makes the choices he does. Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

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