Debussy - Préludes, I & II

Walter Gieseking: piano

Lossless: Ape (img + cue + log) = 120 mb
Lossy: Mp3 (lame "preset standard") = 58 mb
Artwork @ 300dpi = 20 mb

Total playing time: 70:32

Recorded:
15, 16.VIII.1953 (1-12) & 9.10.XII.1954 (13-24)
No. 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London

Released 2000

EMI Classics 7243 5 67233 2 0

Track listing:
1. Préludes, Book I: I. Danseuses de Delphes (Lent et grave)
2. Préludes, Book I: II. Voiles (Modéré)
3. Préludes, Book I: III. Le vent dans la plaine (Animé)
4. Préludes, Book I: IV. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir (Modéré)
5. Préludes, Book I: V. Les collines d'Anacapri (Très modéré)
6. Préludes, Book I: VI. Des pas sur la neige (Triste et lent)
7. Préludes, Book I: VII. Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest (Animé et tumultuex)
8. Préludes, Book I: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin (Très calme et doucement expressif)
9. Préludes, Book I: IX. La sérénade interrompue (Modérément animé)
10. Préludes, Book I: X. La cathédrale engloutie (Profondément calme)
11. Préludes, Book I: XI. La danse de Puck (Capricieux et léger)
12. Préludes, Book I: XII. Minstrels (Modéré)
13. Préludes, Book II: I. Brouillards (Modéré)
14. Préludes, Book II: II. Feuilles mortes (Lent et mélancolique)
15. Préludes, Book II: III. La Puerta del Vino (Mouvement de Habanera)
16. Préludes, Book II: IV. Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses (Rapide et léger)
17. Préludes, Book II: V. Bruyères (Calme)
18. Préludes, Book II: VI. General Lavine - eccentric (Dans le style et le mouvement d'un Cakewalk)
19. Préludes, Book II: VII. La terrasse des audiences au clair de lune (Lent)
20. Préludes, Book II: VIII. Ondine (Scherzando)
21. Préludes, Book II: IX. Hommage à S. Pickwick, Esq., P.P.M.P.C. (Grave)
22. Préludes, Book II: X. Canope (Très calme et doucement triste)
23. Préludes, Book II: XI. Les tierces alternées (Modérément animé)
24. Préludes, Book II: XII. Feux d'artifice (Modérément animé)

Reviews:
Musicweb
"It needs hardly to be said, surely, that every collection should include Gieseking’s 1953/4 account of the Préludes."

Classicstoday
Major classical artists often re-record their specialties, from Stokowski's four Scheherezades to umpteen Karajan Beethoven cycles. Similarly, the great German pianist Walter Gieseking seemed to have dibs on the Debussy Preludes. His 1938/39 versions were staples of the 78 (rpm) catalog, as well as his 1951 and 1953 LP remakes. The present release in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series marks the third time Gieseking's 1953 versions are reissued on CD. Listening to these new transfers, the mid-range seems boosted to the point where we can perceive Gieseking's micro-managed pedal effects more readily than before. But those background pops and ticks make me wonder if the source material used is not the original session tapes. In any event, Gieseking achieves miraculous tonal shadings and half-tints that fully subscribe to Debussy's concept of a piano without hammers. Yet I prefer the sharper profile and more pronounced dynamic contrasts characterizing his traversals on 78s, reissued on Philips, limited sound and all. Their virtues equally apply to the fine-sounding 1951 Columbia LPs (once reissued on Odyssey), which are the Gieseking Debussy Preludes to own. Will they soon be reissued on CD? Don't hold your breath!

Gramophone (click to enlarge)




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