Details: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1920-1995): Claude Debussy -- Preludes Vol. 1; Images I & II. Deutsche Grammophon, 1971/1978. Total time: 72:48.
Michelangeli was a true virtuoso of the piano and his recordings of Debussy here are for the ages -- really brilliant stuff. It's remarkable to hear him conquer this material when more often I associate him with Beethoven, for example.
The Italian Michelangeli was legendary for his precision, even perfection. On recordings and in recitals he is known to have made perhaps two audible mistakes...In total. Which makes it all the more remarkable to hear his technical expertise at the keyboard matched by a subtle, thoughtful interpretation of the French composer's musical paintings.
Debussy creates illusions in a way, including the illusion of improvisation when in fact his composition is precise and intricate. Debussy's magical music seems to blend Oriental sounds with Western, visual with sonic art forms, melody and chords into sound effects, and seems to have predicted jazz before it was invented.
Of course once again here is a parental influence. I heard several of these preludes played on the family piano by my mother, most memorably the Feux d'artifice (Fireworks) from Preludes Vol. 2 (subject of the next blog entry) and I can still see my mother's hands flying up and down the keyboard playing arpeggios, scales and chords.
My mother's three favorite composers were (in order) Bach, Beethoven and Chopin. Debussy might've been #4. This music is hardly ever played in live recitals anymore, and hasn't been for a long time. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's just a phase and the pendulum will come back at some point?
Debussy creates illusions in a way, including the illusion of improvisation when in fact his composition is precise and intricate. Debussy's magical music seems to blend Oriental sounds with Western, visual with sonic art forms, melody and chords into sound effects, and seems to have predicted jazz before it was invented.
Of course once again here is a parental influence. I heard several of these preludes played on the family piano by my mother, most memorably the Feux d'artifice (Fireworks) from Preludes Vol. 2 (subject of the next blog entry) and I can still see my mother's hands flying up and down the keyboard playing arpeggios, scales and chords.
My mother's three favorite composers were (in order) Bach, Beethoven and Chopin. Debussy might've been #4. This music is hardly ever played in live recitals anymore, and hasn't been for a long time. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's just a phase and the pendulum will come back at some point?
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