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Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Suite Bergamasque: Clair de lune La plus que lente Arabesque No.1 Le petit nègre Children’s Corner Suite: The snow is dancing Children’s Corner Suite: The little shepherd Children’s Corner Suite: Golliwog’s cakewalk Trois Estampes: La soirée dans Grenade Trois Estampes: Jardins sous la pluie Arabesque No.2 Valse romantique Danse (Tarantelle styrienne) Pour le piano: Toccata Images: Reflets dans l’eau Images: Poissons d’or Mazurka Rêverie Préludes, Book I: La fille aux cheveux de lin Préludes, Book I: Minstrels Préludes, Book I: La cathédral engloutie François-Joël Thiollier (piano) Rec. 28 November - 1 December 1994, 13-15 March 1995, 16-18 January 1996, 25-27 September 1996, Temple Saint Marcel, Paris. NAXOS 8.555800 [78.10]

Franco-American pianist François-Joël Thiollier has been working his way assiduously through the French repertoire in his indefatigable way for Naxos. He has recorded the complete Ravel and Debussy (of which this disc is part and is a Best Of). Surveys of d’Indy, de Falla and Franck are also to his name. Added to this is his repertoire of eighty concertos. So a name to be reckoned with – but what about his Debussy? Let’s face up to a fairly insurmountable problem for those wanting an all-round recommendation. This is one of the most cavernous acoustics I think Naxos has ever given us and I’m afraid it vitiates Thiollier’s virtues. The sensitively projected La plus que lente doesn’t quite survive the swirling air; nor can Le petit nègre be etched with as much incision and wit as it might – attacks are blunted. Yes, the Toccata still sounds well and there is concentration and introspection in Reflets dans l’eau. He is certainly not above rhythmic quirks that may strike one as playful or obtrusive (I tend to go for the latter). It’s a pity that he has been done down by the recording because he is an astute colourist and technically fine. But in general he doesn’t strike me as quite the Debussy pianist that Zoltan Kocsis is – and if you want a representative collection – an old friend I know – you should seek out Gieseking’s four CD set. Jonathan Woolf See also review by Roger Blackburn  Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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