Jean-Yves Thibaudet is not a pianist to be pigeonholed. Alongside the recordings of his fellow countrymen Debussy and Ravel, he has recorded a tribute to a jazz giant, Conversations with Bill Evans, and he plays on the sou... more »ndtrack of the film Portrait of a Lady. Perhaps this catholic approach accounts for the freshness of his Debussy playing. Not for him the "stick the pedal down and make an impressionistic wash of sound" approach. His playing is clean and refreshing without losing any of the voluptuous sensuality of Debussy at his most beguiling. There are lollipops to be found among the extensive repertory on these two discs, including the celebrated "Clair de Lune" from the Suite Bergamasque and the "Golliwogg's Cake-Walk" from Children's Corner. The mainstay of the release is the two sets of Images and the two books of Études, 12 studies whose demands are not for the faint of heart. Luckily for us, Thibaudet's heart is strong. He offers virtuosic, thoughtful performances of pieces that, while written to help develop pianists' technique, stand up magnificently as music to be listened to. --Keith Clarke« less
Jean-Yves Thibaudet is not a pianist to be pigeonholed. Alongside the recordings of his fellow countrymen Debussy and Ravel, he has recorded a tribute to a jazz giant, Conversations with Bill Evans, and he plays on the soundtrack of the film Portrait of a Lady. Perhaps this catholic approach accounts for the freshness of his Debussy playing. Not for him the "stick the pedal down and make an impressionistic wash of sound" approach. His playing is clean and refreshing without losing any of the voluptuous sensuality of Debussy at his most beguiling. There are lollipops to be found among the extensive repertory on these two discs, including the celebrated "Clair de Lune" from the Suite Bergamasque and the "Golliwogg's Cake-Walk" from Children's Corner. The mainstay of the release is the two sets of Images and the two books of Études, 12 studies whose demands are not for the faint of heart. Luckily for us, Thibaudet's heart is strong. He offers virtuosic, thoughtful performances of pieces that, while written to help develop pianists' technique, stand up magnificently as music to be listened to. --Keith Clarke
Mesmerising and musically imaginative performances
Vincent Lau | 06/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jean-Yves Thibaudet may not be the ideal pianist for every kind of music that he plays. His Rachmaninoff is disappointingly tepid and his Chopin uninteresting. His Liszt recordings, while being technically assured, often lacks a sense of abandon and frisson (or should I say "showmanship") which, in my view, is an indispensable element in that kind of music, and his Schubert (as heard in the soundtrack for ) sounds contrived and mannered.However, he is definitely a force to be reckoned with in his native French repertoire, as shown by his marvellous traversal of Ravel's piano pieces in 1992, a set which has won lots of accolades and unanimous praise from critics. He then embarked on a project to record all the solo piano works of Debussy and, in 1996, released the first instalment thereof, a 2-CD set which includes the Preludes, Estampes and Pour le piano. While these recordings aren't able to efface one's memory of the legendary recordings of Walter Gieseking, they're convincing interpretations which further confirm Thibaudet's stature in this repertoire.Decca has now released the 2nd (and concluding) volume of Debussy's solo piano pieces with Thibaudet, and the results are, if anything, even better. As Thibaudet employs the pedal comparatively sparingly, he doesn't perhaps command the magically luminous and shimmering tone which is the hallmark of Gieseking's Debussy recordings (as can be heard in a 4-CD set released by EMI). Nevertheless, Thibaudet offers here an extraordinary wide range of tonal colours (mostly achieved by the pianist's fingers alone, and is therefore no less impressive from a technical perspective), as well as great sensitivity in phrasing and tempo adjustments that always sound natural and even enchanting while at the same time bringing out the music's many possibilities. Besides, in certain instances (for example in some of the pieces in Children's Corner and the Valse romantique), there exist a degree of charm, wit and sarcastic humour which are mostly absent in Gieseking's recordings of the same pieces. Thibaudet's performance of the Images is mesmerising. His reading is wonderfully evocative and deeply atmospheric and his tonal gradations and sense of control are both cause for marvel. Under Thibaudet's crisp fingers and sensitive hands, the Etudes are not merely virtuosic pieces composed in an innovative idiom, but are also subtly expressive and musically imaginative vignettes, making one wonder why these gems of the keyboard aren't being performed (and recorded) more often. Indeed, such is the standard of the performances here that, besides some faster than average tempo choices for a few of the pieces (which, however, still sound convincing even if they may not actually be sanctioned by Debussy's markings in the relevant scores), this reviewer has hardly any reservation throughout the 151 minutes of music on offer in this 2-CD set. In fact, the recordings, which are well supported by the Decca engineers, are so musically fascinating and tonally alluring that this reviewer was immediately transported to a trance like state when listening to them for the very first time! This, surely, is one of the most enjoyable new piano releases that have come out in the past few years.Highly recommended and definitely a set worthy of being investigated by pianophiles."
Evocative and mesmerizing if a little distorted in places
madamemusico | Cincinnati, Ohio USA | 04/21/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I shall try to be as brief as possible. My standards in Debussy are Alfred Cortot and Walter Gieseking, but unfortunately they didn't record everything and the sound of their recordings is getting a little dated. I own Cortot's recordings of Debussy songs with Maggie Teyte and Gieseking's recordings of the Preludes, but was looking for good modern recordings of "La plus que lente," "Suite Bergamesque," "Images" and the "Children's Corner Suite." After listening to excerpts on the Amazon site, I bought this recording.Thibaudet has a gorgeous tone and touch. His musical styling, however, is sometimes accurate, sometimes phlegmatic. He plays the Song of the Doll in "Children's Corner" a little too fast, and in both "Golliwog's Cakewalk" and "Clair de lune" he employs an odd sort of rubato that seems to add a half-beat to certain measures. (In these pieces I know because I used to play them). Despite these quirks, however, his playing has charm, color and a dashing technique reminiscent of Gieseking. The reason I only gave this set 4 stars instead of 5 is because the Etudes are trashy music, mere technical exercises without any redeeming (to me) musical value. If you feel differently, however, I suppose you will rate this as a 5-star album, but to me it was a half-hour of listening time totally wasted. Otherwise, a beautiful album that you will listen to again and again."
Superior recordings and performances
Gontroppo | Bathurst, NSW Australia | 09/18/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Penguin Guide to CDs and DVDs has Thibaudet's sets of the complete Debussy solo piano music at the top of the digital recordings, and this is certainly high quality.
We have several recordings of the Preludes and some other works, but there is nothing to come close to Thibaudet for great performances and superior recording quality.
The liner notes are very helpful, and in the first set you get different articles in English, French, German and Italian. Great if you are multilingual, but only of marginal interest to me. The second set has one article and translations, not separate articles.
Well worth purchasing."
Jean Yves Thibaudet plays Debussy
Amy | 08/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like Chopin, Debussy asks the pianist to give him everything, from strength and quickness to the most delicate poetic playing. Jean Yves Thibaudet is one of the few that I know of who can do all this. Like the French painters and poets, Debussy can make you feel different moods, as the titles of his works suggest, Reflets dans l eau(Reflections in the Water), Nuages(Clouds), and Les Sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir(Sounds and Perfumes Swirl in the Evening Air). He was inspired by writers and painters, and his music sounds improvised. His way of making the piano sound like flowing waterfalls and running water is what made him famous. This cd collection is a wonderful set, it includes the popular Suite Bergamasque and Children1s Corner as well the two great sets of Images,and the Etudes. This is Vol. 2, there is also a Vol. 1 by Thibaudet also. If you are interested in a complete set of Debussy piano works definitely get Vol.1 too."
Exceptional! As with Vol. 1, this set SHINES!
G. Stewart | Chesapeake, VA USA | 03/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Again, thank you to my Amazon friend Amy for another exceptional recommendation.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the virtuoso pianist, was awarded his country's highest musical award in 2007, France's prestigious Victoire D'Honneur, a lifetime achievment award in what is, essentially, France's Grammy Awards. And rightfully so; he is a wonder, a masterful performer and a passionate interpretor of the works which he plays.
Here, Thibaudet completes Debussy's repetoire of solo piano work by following up Complete piano works, Vol. 1 with the remaining works for solo piano composed by Claude Debussy, one of the master French Impressionsists.
Offered on this double disc set are 16 (13 were included on Volume 1) compositions by Debussy. All are amazing and the collection is worth every penny. Any fan of Debussy, the impressionists, late romantic classical or turn of the century (20th) classical, should own both this and Volume 1. It is necessary to hear Thibaudet perform his countryman's pieces flawlessly and with such passion and vigor.
Debussy was a non-conformist and a lot of what he did, although it could have been labeled in a standard manner, was classified in a strange or contrary fashion. For example, his 'Piano Concerto' was called 'Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra'. Most of what he wrote could be considered tone poems, but he never used that moniker; Debussy sought to place pictures or scenes in the mind of the listener, using just music; he wrote tone poems. But, yes, he was unorthodox.
This disc contains several compositions which contain more than one piece or movement and they are:
---Images, Serie 1 (Set 1) - 3 pieces, all amazing. I 'Reflets dans l'eau' ('Reflections on the Water'), evocative of a dancing water fountain with it's distorted shapes and ripples; lovely, soft, with ascending and descending cascades of keystrokes; II Homage a Rameau is a succulent, if not somewhat atonal, soft and reverent "tip o' the hat" to Rameau for his tragic opera 'Castor et Polux'. III Mouvement is, as the title suggests, active; quick on the keys and intense in it's use of high and low chords in contrast.
---Images, Serie 2 (Set 2) - 3 pieces, again, amazing. I Cloches a travers les feullies ('Bells heard through the leaves') has a very chilly fell to it; it feels like autumn. II 'Et la lune descend sur la temple qui fut' ('And the moon descends on the temple that was' or 'Descent of the moon upon the temple which used to be') is somewhat dark and eerie but hauntingly beautiful. III 'Poissons d'or' ('Goldfish') sparkles brightly, a sprite and joyful tune.
---Children's Corner Suite - 6 pieces. These are tunes about children, not composed for children to perform. They are a treat. I 'Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum' is a jest towards Clementi's 'Gradus ad Parnassum' ("Steps to Parnassus", a reference to the mythilogical Mount Parnassus where the godesses of the arts resided), a series of instructional pieces for piano. It is a fast-paced romp on the keyboard, light and fun. II 'Jimbo's Lullaby' is, in my humble opinion, the best of the 6 pieces; it is a beautiful, melancholy piece which is punctuated with dissonance, but it is enjoyable and, towards the end, contains a sublime melody. III 'Serenade for the doll' is, like movement II, punctuated by dissonance, but wonderful and soothing. IV 'The snow is dancing' evokes just that picture; it is a soothing dance on the keyboard; IMHO, second only to movement II in beauty. V 'The Little Shepherd' is light, dissonant and as playful as the rest of the pieces. VI 'Golliwogg's Cakewalk' is a piece for dance (a cakewalk) that is based upon a French mythical creature known as a Golliwogg. The piece is best known for it's reference to the 'Tristan Chord' from Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde'. If you listen, you can hear (first at 1 minute 25 seconds, then repeated again throughout) the 'Tristan Chord' played then followed by mimicking laughter from the piano.
---Suite Bergamasque - Debussy's most famous piece probably comes from this Suite in the 3rd movement. I Prelude is lovely, almost somber but contrastingly still uplifting. II Menuet is true to title, a dance, tranquil and melodious. III Clair de Lune ('Moonlighting') is probably Debussy's most famous work. It has also been orchestrated and is used in movies, tv shows and commercials ubiquitously. But it is staggeringly radiant and remains my favorite classical piece. IV Passapied ('moving feet') is a dance piece; it is fast and breezy, quite enjoyable.
---Etudes, 12 pieces (in 2 books). All are studies for learning to play but, despite the fact that studies might seem prosaic, they are enjoyable to hear, impressive and substantial.
The remaining pieces are individual pieces for solo piano:
---'Le Petit Negre' (the title is quite offensive and I don't understand the purpose behind it) is beautiful, despite the title. It opens quickly, slows to a soft melody, and returns to its opening, quick theme.
---'La plus que lente' is one of my favorite pieces by Debussy. It is delicate and the melody is quite breath-taking.
---'Valse romantique' is much like 'La plus que lente'; perhaps slightly less melodious, but still lovely.
---'Ballade slave' is another of my favorite Debussy pieces. It is a graceful and melodic piece, supple and warm.
---'Tarantelle styrienne' is a piece for ballet, played at a quick pace and I feel it may be more enjoyable were it played slower.
---'Mazurka' is just that; a dance, slowly played but at a quick time. It is a bit awkward sounding, but still somewhat enjoyable.
---'Hommage a Joseph Haydn' is alluring; soft and slow with flourishes and harsh chords. I rather like the piece.
---'Elegie' would be one of the last pieces composed by Debussy for solo piano before his death in 1918. As the title suggests, the piece is somber, played slowly, a reflection on sorrow.
---'Berceuse Heroique' was written in response to the German occupation of Belgium; in fact, it was written for the king to honor his defense of the country. The title literally means 'heroic lullaby'. It is a gloomy and oppressive piece that occassionally references the Belgian national anthem. It communicates its intended theme thoroughly and is stunning.
---'Page d'album' (subtitled 'Piece pour le Vetemente du blesse' or 'Piece for the clothing of the wounded') A piece written, again, in response to the monstrous German regime. It is slightly lighter in makeup than the associated 'Berceuse Heroique' but does still carry a darker undertone.
---'Etude retrouvee' (subtitled 'Pour les arpeges composes' or 'for composed arpeggios'). Retrouvee means 'recovered' or 'found' and, as the title indicates, the piece was never published (heck, Debussy never let anyone know it existed). The subtitle being the same as the 11th Etude suggests a connection, but the piece was apparently discarded by Debussy only to be discovered in 1977. The pieces do not resemble each other, making this a unique and enjoyable find for Debussy fanatics; a dead piece, reborn.
Excellent performance and great recording make this disc a MUST HAVE!!!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
