Debussy: Complete Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 1by Anonymous

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March 03, 2008: 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 Jean-Yves Thibaudet - 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...