Search - Claude Debussy, Cédric Tiberghien :: Debussy

Remarkable debut

bjf2000 | Boston, MA | 04/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Adrian Jack of BBC Magazine writes "This is a remarkable debut disc by a 25-year-old pianist... he is a sensuous player with brilliant articulation and gleaming sound quality......this disc establishes a new benchmark. It includes an outstandingly wise performance of that miniature tone poem, L'isle joyeuse, arguably Debussy's single greatest piano piece.""

A Mostly Fine Debussy Recital by a Young French Pianist

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 08/31/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cédric Tiberghien (b. 1975) is a young French laureate of the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition of 1998. He has now recorded three CDs, of which this was the first I believe. Being French and having French training is no guarantee that a pianist will be able to play Debussy well, but Tiberghien is certainly in the right ballpark when it comes to his approach to Debussy. I have some minor complaints about his dwelling too much in the shadows, though, in such pieces as 'Pagodes' from 'Estampes,' or 'Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut' from the 2nd book of Images, although an argument could be made that that is simply matter of style or taste; it just doesn't happen to correspond to mine, as I prefer more sharply etched impressions in those two pieces.



That said, I have nothing but praise for much of the rest of this CD (with a minor quibble about the rather awkward start of 'L'Isle joyeux' which improves later into the piece). 'La Soirée dans Grenade' is languorously seductive--one can feel the heat. 'Jardin sous la pluie,' ('Estampes') and 'Mouvement'(Book I, 'Images') are breathtaking in their crystalline fingerwork and forward motion. Clearly, M. Tinberghien has prestissimo fingers.



If I had to pick my favorite in this recital, it might have to be 'Poissons d'or' with its perfect mix of leggero fingerwork and attention to the myriad details in this evocative score. But, no, I think, rather, I prefer 'Reflets dan l'eau,' with its dreamy A section and the tumultuous climax. Wait, no, I think it's the drunken 'Masques,' which threatens (just as a reveler might) to become violent but instead keeps its sarcastic good humor through to the end.



Tinberghien is up against formidable competition and his recital is not quite at the highest level as are those of Zimerman, Gieseking or, more recently, Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Still, this is a creditable recital and Tinberghien is a pianist to watch.



TT=62:39



Scott Morrison"