Claudio Aarau – Debussy (2003)

CD1:
1. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 1. Danseuses de Delphes 
2. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 2. Voiles 
3. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 3. Le vent dans la plaine           play
4. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 4. 'Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir' 
5. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 5. Les collines d'Anacapri 
6. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 6. Des pas sur la neige 	
7. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 7. Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest 	
8. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 8. La fille aux cheveux de lin 	
9. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 9. La sérénade interrompue 
10. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 10. La cathédrale engloutie 	
11. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 11. La danse de Puck 	
12. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: 12. Minstels 
13. Images (3), for piano, Set I, L. 110: Reflets dans l'eau 	
14. Images (3), for piano, Set I, L. 110: Hommage à Rameau 
15. Images (3), for piano, Set I, L. 110: Mouvement                             play
16. Estampes, for piano, L. 100: Pagodes 
17. Estampes, for piano, L. 100: Soirée dans Grenade 
18. Estampes, for piano, L. 100: Jardins sous la pluie 

Disc2:
1. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 1. Brouillards 	
2. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 2. Feuilles mortes 	
3. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 3. La Puerta del Vino 	
4. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 4. 'Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses' 
5. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 5. Bruyères 
6. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 6. General Lavine - eccentric               play
7. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 7. La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune 
8. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 8. Ondine 
9. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 9. Hommage à Samuel Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C. 
10. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 10. Canope 	
11. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 11. Les tierces alternées 	              play
12. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 12. Feux d'artifice 	
13. Images (3), for piano, Set II, L. 111: Cloches à travers les feuilles 
14. Images (3), for piano, Set II, L. 111: Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut 	
15. Images (3), for piano, Set II, L. 111: Poissons d'or

Disc3:
1. Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75: Prélude 
2. Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75: Menuet 
3. Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75: Clair de lune 
4. Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75: Passepied 	
5. Sarabande 'Souvenir du Louvre,' for piano, L. 87/2 
6. La plus que lente, waltz for piano (or orchestra), L. 121
7. Valse romantique, for piano, L. 71

Claudio Aarau – piano

This contains a new version of Estampes, Images books I and II, Preludes Book I and II, Suite Bergamasque, Valse Romantique and La Plus que lente-the final disc containig the later items was included in exact form on the final sessions release on Philips. Why the states havent released this, along with his Schumann, is beyond me because these are extraordinary recordings. This is big, dark Debussy. Not hazy like Gieseking nor is it of the pin point stoicism of Michelangli[that is a compliment]. It is kind of a mix of the two, but with a heavy dose of germanic emotionalism. The sound is magnificent, surely one of the best examples of Arrau's tone on any available recording. For those looking to hear these pieces in an intriguing way by one of the century's greatest pianists and musical minds-a mind who didnt stop at the printed page but always delved deep into the composers mind-then you cant go wrong. For Arrau fans-this is an absolute must.

When they were released in the early '80s, Claudio Arrau was in his late seventies and some said the virtuoso Chilean pianist was too old to play Debussy's preludes, Images, and Estampes, claiming that his famous velvet tone and polished technique were no longer up to the extreme technical challenge. And although opinion came down against his sometimes expansive tempos and his occasional ritardandos at climaxes, listeners soon found themselves returning more and more often to Arrau's luminous sonorities in Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut, to his mysterious tonalities in Des pas sur la neige and to his consummate virtuosity in Feux d'artifice and finding deep satisfaction in their profound beauty. So when Arrau's 1991 recording of Debussy's Suite Bergamasque, Pour le piano, La plus que lente, and Valse romantique was posthumously released in 1992, listeners were ready and receptive. And Arrau did not disappoint: these are among the most exquisitely beautiful Debussy performances ever recorded. The radiance of his Clair de lune, the sensuality of his La plus que lent, and, most amazingly, the extraordinary virtuosity of his Passepied belie his 88 years. Captured in Philips' transparent yet immediate piano sound, these performances should be heard by anyone who loves Debussy's piano music or great piano playing. ---James Leonard, Rovi

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