Repertoire: The IDEAL Debussy Piano Works 

Paul Verlaine's poem _Clair de lune_ (which inspired Debussy) mentions "masques et bergamasques", hence the title. I wouldn't bother mentioning such a detail, had Fauré not written a chanson on the same poem, which happens to be one of the most beautiful songs from the nineteenth century. (He included an orchestrated version in his suite _Masques et bergamasqes_ - hence that title.) Anyway, whoever doesn't know Fauré's _Clair de lune_ should look it up. It is a life enriching experience.

There's a video of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli on youtube from the 1960s playing Images I and II. Check that out if you want to see and hear a breathtaking example of a world class player in top form playing Debussy without the distracting misuse of dynamics that many players cloak themselves in because they have no legit world class chops.

Excellent, clear, practical! And thank you for your kind words about me, and for mentioning the Horowitz L'isle joyeuse. However, if you want a modern recording of Suite Bergamasque (although Gieseking is indeed wonderful, and you should have his Debussy cycle), try Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Decca), Seong-Jin Cho (DG) or Livia Rev (either her Saga or Hyperion versions, both excellent).

Paul Jacobs on Nonesuch was my first exposure to the Preludes and they are still a sentimental favorite. Besides Jacobs (and Osborne), I also enjoyed Zimerman’s recording on DG. I like the way he builds the climax in the Engulfed Cathedral. BTW . . . I really enjoy these early morning posts. They are great for the commute to work.

I totally expected Uchida for the Etudes, but Rosen deserves a plug too. It's pure Charles music, virtuosic and cerebral, and he did them twice in fact, first in 1951 and then 1962 which is the version in the big Rosen Sony box. Robert Casadesus for the Preludes, and Paul Jacobs for his Nonesuch Images/Estampes disc. I play a mean Gollligog's Cakewalk myself, but my version was withdrawn 'cause people were laughing too hard.

Thank you, David. I love Debussy's piano music. Two other pianists I like in this music are Alexis Weissenberg (in spite of the fact that he's often considered 'cold') and Yuri Egorov.

Terrific video...but of course, to complete Debussy, we now need a talk about Debussy complete piano works box sets...I'll keep listening...please keep videoing!

Here I must yield: as much as I love every single great Debussy pianist (Kocsis, Moravec, Zimerman, Uchida, you name it) Michelangeli is my first choice for every Debussy piece he recorded. It's just the perfect painter for Debussy's scenes, for my ears at least. I'll add that "glacial" is not and adjective that I'd ever use for ABM: his miracle was imbuing technical perfection (not only mechanically, but also sonically) with profound emotion. And this miracle was unique to him: every other pianist that tried to imitate his style ended up being indeed glacial. That being said: great choices!

Beautiful choices. A transcendent short favorite: Bavouzet's interpretation of "Reflets dans l'eau." Am I wrong in thinking many serious listeners are unfamiliar with Bavouzet's remarkable recordings of Debussy?

Here's my ideal recordings while trying my best to avoid any of the video's pianists. Of course I left a lot recordings I really like out... Pour le Piano - Magda Tagliaferro (Erato): Oh how I love her woody and chiseled phrasing of the melodies, but so full of life. Children's Corner - Nelson Freire (Decca): Sensitive playing from a master of color, and he doesn't forget the humor. Estampes - Sviatoslav RIchter (Orfeo): Richter achieves zen stillness... and then comes the rain. (Also comes with a great Suite Bergamasque) Images - Yvonne Lefebure (Fycd): Maybe I'm crazy, but Lefebure is my benchmark for the Images. She keeps the pieces going and is never too gloomy. Preludes - Catherine Collard (Sony or Newton classics): My favorite from nowhere, it's just bold and punchy. Etudes - Albert Ferber (EMI): Ferber is probably the only pianist that makes me forget the Etudes are Etudes. He always brings out the musical aspects of each and every one of them, even through the limited recording sonics. Extra: Arabesques - Jacques Fevrier (Decca) L'Isle Joyeuse - Samson Francois

That was fun. Thanks so much for doing this. I was hoping for Debussy's piano music. Best, Garret

A few years ago I went on a rampage to find a truly fantastic, consistent and enjoyable recording of Debussy's complete piano music by one pianist, and I ended up with Gordon Fergus-Thompson. He recorded all of it for ASV during the 80s/90s, which was then re-issued for a budget price on Brilliant Classics (with wonderful artwork by Monet, Renoir and Pissarro might I add) and they've been my favourite interpretations since. It's delicate, yet not lacking emotion and passion in the darker, more haunting works. It's mellow and almost feathery, and he takes some slower tempi (especially in the Suite Bergamasque) which I actually prefer to those that take brisker ones. I highly recommend it to Debussy lovers.

Thanks for doing Debussy's piano works. I now have a great collection. Thanks again.

Marcelle Meyer is worth a listen, e.g. in the preludes...

The little tiny pieces lend themselves to the masterpiece miniature series !! Wonderful review 🥰

I have recently purchased Victor Lederer’s Debussy book from the Unlocking the Masters Series, and I can’t wait to go though his book with your recommended recordings!

Noriko Ogawa seems to have been blessed with that special "touch" you refer to,and Volume 1 of her traversal of the piano music has some glorious accounts of Images,Estampes,Masques pour piano and L'Isle joyeuse.Alain Planes may not be everyone's cup of tea,but his two-disc set, including a bunch of stuff beginning with Images inédites, is one of my favourite piano CDs of all time.On the historical front,Marcelle Meyer - coached by Debussy himself - is always poetic despite being sonically compromised;and Albert Ferber too had things to say.Gieseking may not immediately compelling, but his subtlety comes through with repeated listening.

i havent listened to that particular images for a long time, and when i did i was very much in love (hah) i got quite emotional there ahahaha thanks for that

Arrau’s Preludes (formerly on Philips) has been a longtime favorite. Two others worth considering are Dino Ciani and Paul Jacobs. Ciani’s tempi are often a bit slow, but I like his dynamic range. On the Kocsis and Uchida recommendations, I wholeheartedly agree. Gorgeous playing with incredible technique and impeccable style.

Hi. Both "Suite Bergamasque" and "Clair de Lune" are direct references to Verlain's poem cycle "Fêtes Galantes", which includes a poem called "Clair de Lune", which in turn contains the phrase "masques et bergamasques". Debussy himself put music to some of those poems, and arranged them into two separate song cycles: Fêtes Galantes Book 1 and Fêtes Galantes Book 2. The former includes a song called "Clair de Lune" based on Verlain's poem. It is worth mentioning that Fauré also has an earlier song based on that same poem, which is absolutely sublime and relatively well-known. Cheers!

LOL I was crazy for Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum too, and learned Children's Corner so I could play it. So damn much fun to play that piece. I wish you'd discuss "Hommage à Rameau", but we can't have everything 🙂🎶

I really enjoy Jeffrey Swann‘s performance of the etudes coupled on the same disk with the Faure preludes.

A fantastic recording of the Etudes went out with the LP era - Anthony di Bonaventura on the CS label. As you say, several good Preludes - favs are Michelangeli and Jacobs. Images ABM!

I was not dissapointed to hear the names Gieseking, Michelangeli, and Moravec. I also totally agree that Horowitz played L'isle joyeuse splendidly. The only person I expected to find in this list who was not mentioned was Casadesus, although I am not sure where I would have squeezed him in, specifically.

Thanks for a very thorough and insightful overview. I once head Daniel Barenboim play PAGODES, and was transported by the ethereal, refined, totally NON-Piano sound that he created..which struck me as exactly right for the music. Too bad he didn't record more. However..since then, I've "auditioned" many sets with different pianists..in the unending search for the pianist who plays Debussy with the most subtle, detailed, colorful, GENTLE sound..since he really did create an entire new world of sound in this music. Moravec is mostly excellent (but incomplete) but of all of the sets tried, the only ones I've kept are Thiollier on Naxos (but NOT the Preludes, which I found had too many big, BRIGHT, "standard piano" moments), and Paul Jacobs for the Preludes. These come closest to what I'm looking for. I'd appreciate your (or any other reader's) thoughts on the most "ethereal", pristine, least muscular and bright approach to this music...the pianist that you feel goes the furthest to create the "piano without hammers" world of Debussy. LR

For clarification to newcomers, the Debussy Box (DG) David held up - while talking about Uchida's ingenious Etudes - also contains the Michelangeli Images I & II, as well as his Children's Corner and some of Kocsis' Debussy interpretations! So you know. Also, I have to make a case for Arrau's scintillating Debussy from his 'Heritage' series on Philips (now Decca). 'Nothing is more musical than a sunset.' -Claude Debussy Happy listening! =)

Assembling these lists can be such a joy. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to have fun. Suite Bergamasque - Nikolai Lugansky L'Isle Joyeuse - Pascal Rogé Pour le Piano - Víkingur Ólafsson Children's Corner - William Kapell Estampes - Lilya Zilberstein Images I - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Images II -- Noriko Ogawa Preludes I - Paul Jacobs Preludes II - Claudio Arrau Etudes - Anne Quefflec 2 Arabesques - Monique Haas

In my piano days I also attempted the Children’s Corner, but did a little better with the Engulfed Cathedral. I was able to play the Girl with the Flaxen Hair more easily. As to recordings, there are so many and I am in complete agreement on the Preludes with Osborne and the Etudes with Uchida-marvelous both!

In addition to many of your suggestions, I also like Sergey Schepkin in Preludes, Book 1 and Rudolf Firkusny in the Children's Corner Suite (in decent mono although it was recorded in 1956.)

It took me quite a long time to tune into Debussy's sound world. Once I understood him everything fell into place. Unfortunately, I didn't have the advantage of your excellent video and being impoverished I started with a very cheap complete set of his solo piano music. I dipped into Brilliant Classics' box set of the complete works played by Gordon-Fergus-Thompson, who was unknown to me, and everyone else I knew. Surprisingly, these performances have given me a lot of pleasure over the years and they are very well recorded. The box also contains Ravel's complete solo piano music played by Paul Crossley, so I had a very good introduction to the piano music of two great French composers. I think the recordings are still available, and still very cheap to buy too. Just to add, Moravec is also one of those artists who has gone under the radar. I'm so happy you recommend him. My favourite recording of Chopin Nocturnes is Moravec.

I wasn’t expecting Gordon Fergus-Thompson to get a mention and I have to admit that against the other recordings I own - Michelangeli, Richter and especially Kocsis, his interpretations may lack that last half ounce of character. But as a total overview of Debussy I find his set very satisfying, one I come back to more frequently than any other. Importantly in this music, ASV have given him a recording which is the most natural of a solo piano that I’ve heard. Engineers and pianist magically reproduce Debussy’s tone palette perfectly,

My list (though I really like yours ...)- Suite Bergamasque- Richter (orfeo, live 1997), Pour le Piano- Moravec, children's corner- Gieseking, Estampes- Arrau, Images- book1- Gilels, Book 2- Michelangeli, Preludes:Book 1- Nelson Freire, Book 2: - Zimerman. Etudes -Bavouzet

Listening to the Etudes, one can't help wondering what Debussy's music would have become had he lived longer.

Children's Corner Suite -Ivan Moravec(the first movement should sound like a child attempting to practice - which most pianist ignore this direction), Pour le piano- Angela Hewitt, Estampes -Youri Egorov, Suite Bergamasque -Walter Gieseking, Images book 1 - Zoltan Kocsis , Images book 2 Jean-Philoppe Collard , Preludes book 1 -Alain Planes , Preludes book 2 - Sviatoslav Richter, Etudes - Charles Rosen and two great efforts Joyous Island - Horowitz and Hommage to Rameau - Artur Rubenstein. We are fortunate to live in this age of great Debussyans. Good listening!

Thanks for doing this Debussy piano works program as per my suggestion. I agree with all your recommendations. I have more Debussy than any other classical composer. The Bavouzet set which I bought a year ago is amazing! The Martin Jones set on Nimbus is an old favorite of mine, although the sound has maybe too much reverb (sort of suits Debussy though). I would also add Debussy's piano music for 4 hands (En Blanc et Noir, Petite Suite, 6 Epigraphs, Symphony in B minor). The classic for these pieces was Alfons & Aloys Kontarsky on DG but Michel Beroff and Jean-Philippe Collard are also great.

Aldo Ciccolini did deserve a mention!

Kocsis' Debussy is available on Amazon Music streaming--the very cd you show. Huzzah!

Good list. A couple of others: Richter's Estampes (DG) is a record that has thrilled me ever since I first heard it. And the wonderful Marcelle Meyer recorded quite a bit of Debussy, including my absolutely favourite version of L'Isle joyeuse. Very much agree about Kocsis and Osborne. How about Freire? Some lovely things in his Decca Debussy. Oddly enough - and I know it's my loss - Gieseking's EMI recordings have never really captivated me. By the time he made them, he was past his prime and in too many places I think that shows.

Marvelous, comme toujours (the "s" in "toujours" courtesy of ondine hd). You inspired me to do some close listening after this talk, comparing multiple versions of a few Debussy Preludes: Gieseking, Zimerman, Michelangeli, Bavouzet, Friere, Rouvier, Richter, Horowitz, Debussy's own piano roll -- and, finally, Steven Osborne. I'm trying to grasp what people mean by "hot," "cool," "emotional," "aristocratic" etc -- and figure out what I like. To varying degrees, with everybody but Osborne and Debussy himself, I felt my ears sort of pinned back; the playing made me aware of the player, and of the music as performance. The Debussy piano roll sounds different, not what I think you mean when you call something "faceless," but so unaffected as to be almost self-effacing. The less Debussy *did* with it, the more engaged I felt, like being invited into the music. If that's what critics mean by "cool," I think that's my speed. To my ears, Osborne comes closest. So thanks for that, David. Btw, about Zoltan Kocsis, are you preparing a vid on his giant Philips/Decca box?

Debussy's piano music has really grown on me over time, though I don't like the Etudes as much as the rest. I have at least one recording of everything in this survey between the Kocsis Debussy/Ravel box, Uchida's Etudes, a recital disc of Pascal Roge, and the disc and a half or so of Moravec in the Supraphon Portrait box. My first Debussy recording was the Gieseking Preludes and they did nothing for me, particularly with the bad sonics. I got rid of them pretty quickly.

Can you review Seong Jin Cho playing Debussy? I found his playing Reflets dans L'eau very inspiring when I was learning that piece. And thanks for mentioning (in another video) Spanish music by composers who never went to Spain--you wouldn't think Debussy had never left France. That would be another fun video.

Thanks. Do you have a favorite orchestral transcription of sunken cathedral?

Can u please suggest some good recordings of the orchestrated l'isle joyeuse?

If I could retroactively bestow an extra decade of life on any composer it would be Debussy (Though he would no doubt complete much less in that time than, say, Mozart or Schubert.) I am mostly in accord with everything Mr. Hurwitz has recommended here, although Paul Jacobs deserves to be included, and Claudio Arrau's recording of the Images I & II and Estampes (not issued in its original form on CD) is one of the great Debussy albums of all time. I put them back together on one CD and even recreated the original cover art! I seriously doubt there exists a more enchanting performance of "Poissons D'or."

What do you think about Paul Jacob's Debussy?

Debussy was the greatest writer for the piano after Chopin (and Schumann?).

As composer for piano, I believe Debussy was slightly greater than Chopin, but I suppose like you say, "Among greats, what does it matter?" If he were a painter, he would be as Rousseau.

Excellent program: the choices are faultless, and I have enjoyed each over the years. Others: Richter had a magical touch with this music, as did Moravec, and I wish both recorded more Debussy. I really love the etudes; the first recording I heard was Paul Jacobs' on Nonesuch years ago, and that, along with Uchida's still are my favorites. Rubenstein's Poissons D'or still seems unmatched to my ears, and I think that piece meant a lot to him. Each of the pianists noted in the program are dead or otherwise have been around for a long time. Young pianists today do not seem to "get" this music. Little of it is flashy, but most seems quite hard to interpret convincingly.

May be I have missed it. There seem to be 1 major work of Debussy that you didn't mention. That is the Etudes

Michelangeli drove Celibidache out of the piano player business as well.

"Le Petit Negre" would be a good 'Miniature Masterpieces' entry, if you can find an inoffensive way to translate the title...

If only there really were a piece with the title "Homard à l'américaine", it would have to be coupled with the "Variations sur un thème de Tournedos Rossini"

Samson Francois is a great listen for his technique and personal flair, though he's not always the cleanest with pedaling and phrasing. Ravel is more his specialty. But what a fine pianist he was even if he wasted his talents on drugs and women.

Alsatian is a dog, a resident is an Alsacienne

I'm pretty sure classical music is the only genre where it's fine nowadays to mention, oh, by the way he was a Nazi, but nevermind, you should own his records because he was amazing.

Did you know that French originally started out as a language wherein all of the letters were silent? From thence... decay!