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(based on 19 reviews)
 Debussy Favorites in OK Performances, Variable Sound
Written by J Scott Morrison from Middlebury VT, USA
May 23, 2004
Francois-Joël Thiollier has recorded much of Debussy's piano music for Naxos. This CD appears to be a 'favorites' album drawn from several previous issues. The most familiar and probably the best-loved Debussy pieces are here, beginning with a dreamy (but somewhat soupily-recorded) 'Clair de lune' ('Moonlight'). [The cover illustration is a nice reproduction of Eugène Boudin's gorgeous 'The Effect of the Moon.'] As of yet Amazon has not listed the contents, so I shall do so: Clair de lune, La plus que lente, Arabesque Nos. 1 & 2, Le petit nègre, excerpts from The Children's Corner (The snow is dancing, The little shepherd, Golliwog's cakewalk), La soirée dans Grénade, Jardin sous la pluie, Valse romantique, Tarantelle styrienne, Toccata, Reflets dans l'eau, Poissons d'or, Mazurka, Révérie, The Girl with the Golden Hair, and The Engulfed Cathedral. Thiollier often takes slower than usual tempi, and he often sounds rather deliberate or even stodgy as a result. This is not to say there aren't some quicker tempi taken: 'Le petit nègre' starts off with a real Gottschalkian verve, but when he comes to the second theme he backs off. 'Poissons d'or' ('Goldfish') swim excitedly (and beautifully). 'The snow is dancing' all right, but it seems to be doing a sarabande. These are pretty straight interpretations; one misses the drama or sadness in, say, Golliwog's Cakewalk. I think one problem in all these performances is a lack of crisp articulation. Debussy's soft-edged harmonies can lead a pianist to play in a flaccid, dreamy fashion and that works for some of the pieces, but on the whole Debussy requires more rhythmic spine, and that is often lacking here. The primary thing going for this compilation is the price. But I couldn't recommend it to anyone other than someone on a sharply restricted budget and who wants these particular pieces. For somewhat more outlay, one could have performances by say, the fabled Michelangeli or the spectacular Kocsis or the legendary Gieseking. TT=78:10 Scott Morrison
(28 of 31 people found this review helpful)
 Heavenly music
Written by J. Pruitt from Northwoods of WI
Apr 14, 2010
If you like lovely piano music, you will LOVE this. Great dinner music. And Clair de lune is the missing song from the Twilight soundtrack. Greatly missed. That is why I bought this, and the whole album is fantastic.
(3 of 3 people found this review helpful)
Classic
Written by Kelli Daggett from Michigan
Dec 15, 2009
I bought this more because of Twilight but I am a fan of classical and piano... Lovely music.
(3 of 3 people found this review helpful)
Awesome Interpretations of Debussy
Written by MusicRules from USA
Aug 16, 2010
A long time ago, I started playing some of the music on this CD. Technically, it is very difficult, but with the right interpretation, technique and talent, it can be done. The Engulfed Cathedral is my all time favorite piece, but I also like the other pieces.
The volume is varied a lot on this CD, but that really tells me how well this is played. I own a powerful piano like the one played on here and it is VERY difficult to play some of the music as softly and as fast paced as is done on this CD.
The Second Arabesque and Sarabande are my favorite pieces that reflect flexibility to play both a slow rate as well as a fast pace. The Arabesque has a lot of awkward rhythm in it (2 notes per beat in one hand and 3 notes per beat in the other hand).
I would probably play some of the music at a slightly slower pace, but that's up to personal preference. Impressionist music is left up to interpretation. I have this CD playing a LOT so I can study its music, relax by it and overall zone out with it.
Debussy has always been my favorite composer. His music is sort of like jazz because it has awkward rhythms, sounds and switches key signatures in one piece, but somehow returns back to the original theme. This is somewhere in between classical and jazz as far as a style of music, but it kind of stands on its own as well.
Soothing Debussy
Written by Elizabeth A. Keehan-kirby from Arlington, VA United States
Feb 17, 2010
This is a well produced and honorable interpretation of Debussy's work. Amongst classical compositions, I prefer that which soothes and calms. Debussy, truly is inspired with his pieces and they will leave you with a sense of serenity and peace. Delightful to hear! Any appreciator of the classics needs to have Debussy in his collection. This recording is a fine introduction to his contribution to the music world.
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