Customer Rating:  
Summary: Is this in mono...?
Comment: This was a disappointment. And I'm not referring to the performance, of which I have not been able to form an opinion due to the poor sound quality. According to the booklet these are "ADRM = Analogue to Digital Remaster", and I have to say that the Decca remastering team has done a substandard job.
As pointed out by another reviewer, the volume is low so you have to crank it up, and when you do, you hear plenty of hiss.
The sound is rather muddled and dull. No sense of space.
But the biggest problem is that the stereo separation is extremely narrow. Indeed, at times it is non-existent, which gives the impression of listening to monaural recordings. Very strange since these analogue recordings very made in the 1970s.
This refers both to Rogé's Debussy Piano Works and to his Ravel Piano Works.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Too mechanical with little nuance
Comment: The playing is technically flawless, but Mr. Roge does not seem to grasp the subtle nuance necessary to bring out the genius in Debussy. For example, very rarely is it necessary or even desirable to hammer out the low notes in this music, especially in the Preludes, but Mr. Roge seems to take a heavy handed approach when a light touch is in order. Check out the recordings by Paul Jacobs if you want to hear the inner beauty of the Preludes and the Images sets. Aldo Ciccolini offers a great example of how to bring out the line and expression of the some of the early works. I would not recommend this recording for anyone other than a collector who wants to realize how truly remarkable Paul Jacobs is as an interpreter of Debussy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Superb
Comment: Debussy superbly played, not overdone and too fast as often is the case when pianists try to showcase their technical skill rather than follow the original intent of the music. Perfect.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Comment: After wavering for months as to which set of Debussy solo piano music to buy, I decided on this one and have not regretted it for a moment. The playing and recording are gorgeous. I was scared away from Giesking based on complaints about the quality of those recordings (and I don't really like mono). The Kocsis Images recording was tempting, but not as comprehensive as this one. I can't imagine a better (or less expensive) single recording of Debussy solo piano music.
Customer Rating:
Summary: of the 6 or 7 recordings
Comment: I've heard almost every major recording of Debussy's piano music. Pascal roge is the finest. the only one you need actually. Gieseking is of interest, but after carefully reviewing his recordings, Pascal Roge surpasses Gieseking in grasping the nuances and poetic form in Debussy. Gieseking served me very well until Roge's masterly recording came along.
Yes i've heard casadesus, not sure why his hype lives on to THIS DAY. Casadesus doesn't even hold his own agaisnt Gieseking, but the die hard Casadesus fans yet live on.
EDIT:
Today i pulled out this cd. There's no doubt this is the finest Debussy on record. I would give Pommier/Virgin label a very close 2nd place.
Other than these 2, there are no others which capture the most difficult piano music ever scored.
Though I place that of Ravel in a greater sense of importance, Debussy scored music of Eternal Beauty. IOW I can envision mankind 1000 yrs from now (near the end of the reign of Christ's kingdom of peace, when Satan is once again allowed freedom on earth) to considered as beautiful then as it is today. Much like the greek epic plays are considered great art in this post modern world. People in a 1000 yrs from now will say among themselves *you mean post modern mankind did not appreciate this music, less than 1% of the cultured population actually listened to Debussy's piano music? How dreadful a time on earth that must have been, how deaf they were back then!! What lack of sensitivity to beauty*
I never listen to Chopin, as the music pales in comparison with Debussy's *entriguing beauty in every note*
Paul Best
new Orleans
Aug 3,2008
|
