For over 60 years the argentinian pianist martha argerich has. Though he is without a doubt one of the mad genius pianists of the century, michelangelis reputation is sustained. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. Hamelins debussy preludes book 2 are some of the best ive heard. Michelangelis dg recordings of debussy are legendary. I wanted to get michelangelis recording, since a lot of people here love it so much. That is what was produced whenever the master pianist, michelangeli, sat down at a piano to play debussy, as he did here in the complete cycle of debussy s preludes, book livre 1, a group of.
Like vladimir horowitz and glenn gould, michelangeli employs a relatively flatfingered technique for sustained legato passages and certain rotary arpeggios such as those in ce qua vu le vent douest. Although the composer did not think the preludes should be performed as a cycle, book two is perfectly symmetrical with two showpieces at the start and end on the twelve pieces. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Debussy preludes volume 1 arturo benedetti michelangeli piano.
Arturo benedetti michelangeli debussy preludes, book 1. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir 5 5. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. Claude debussy arturo benedetti michelangeli images 1. Oh, if you want to hear some of these preludes performed by a reputable debussy interpreter, look up michelangeli on youtube and youll find a series of videos where he plays the majority if not all of these preludes. I mentioned daniel ericourt above because he is an highly underrated pianist who does much for the music of debussy in a very special way a keyboard colorist, which is what this music requires.
Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Still, as musicologist rollo myers notes, the pictorial element is not unduly stressed if stressed at all. After all, arturo benedetti michelangelis 70s recordings of debussys images and preludes, book 1, were hailed in their time as revolutionary, masterly, and uniquely compelling, and the encomiums have kept on through every subsequent rerelease. June 12, 1995 lugano, switzerland the celebrated italian pianist and pedagogue, arturo benedetti michelangeli, began music lessons at the age of 3, initially with the violin, but quickly switched to the piano. The 1950s and 1960s were a busy time for the pianist, who divided his time between a hectic concert schedule and various teaching appointments. For me its michelangeli and cortot, with richter and aimard right up there too. The sound of the preludes, book1 is less satisfactory the piano seems closer and the sound can get a bit glassy. Preludes volume 1 by arturo benedetti michelangeli album.
Arturo benedetti michelangeli is on of the best pianist of the twentieth century. Michelangeli s unique creative touch made him somewhat of a prophet to the new art of debussy. For over 60 years the argentinian pianist martha argerich has amazed audiences all over the world with her wild, impulsive playing and her constant risktaking, overcoming every technical. That is what was produced whenever the master pianist, michelangeli, sat down at a piano to play debussy, as he did here in the complete cycle of debussys preludes, book livre 1, a group of. These works are distinct from debussys images pour orchestre. After all, arturo benedetti michelangelis 70s recordings of debussys images and preludes, book 1, were hailed in their time as revolutionary, masterly, and uniquely compelling, and the. But i much prefer this live 1982 royal festival hall taping. Claude debussy arturo benedetti michelangeli preludes volume 1. Michelangelis debussy was wholly unique, and these performances show why. The piece is 39 measures long and takes approximately two and a. Piano works by arturo benedetti michelangeli on amazon music. Arturo benedetti michelangeli debussy preludes, book 1 youtube.
Claude debussys painterly preludes the subtle, elusive quality of debussys twentyfour preludes is captured perfectly by pianist paul jacobs, who plays them with a tolling, belllike sound. Claude debussy arturo benedetti michelangeli preludes. The title is in french and translates roughly to the girl with the flaxen hair. Any recordings you find of sviatoslav richter playing any of debussys preludes are also worthy of consideration. Michelangelis lofty, commanding way with debussys book i preludes is familiar from his 1978 dg studio recording. Listening to this extraordinary live performance, i sometimes feel the piano itself plays this extraordinary masterpiece without any manipulation by. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces.
This allows performers to choose preludes with which they have the strongest affinity, or those to which their individual interpretive gifts are. Quietly teeming, delicate, and atmospheric, the texture is dominated by sweeping arpeggios that require a high degree of control on the part of the pianist. That is what was produced whenever the master pianist, michelangeli, sat down at a piano to play debussy, as he did here in the complete cycle of debussys preludes, book livre 1, a group of tone poems, along with book 2, in the form of preludes for piano. Initially, debussy and other pianists who gave early performances of the works including ricardo vines played them in groups of three or four preludes, which remains a popular approach today. Preludes book 2 by arturo benedetti michelangeli, claude. Debussy voiles from preludes book 1 this page lists all recordings of voiles from preludes book 1 sails by claude achille debussy 18621918.
During his career he played music from composers of different periods of classic music. Debussy preludes livre i michelangeli london 1982 youtube. Pianist arturo benedetti michelangeli performing debussys preludes and childrens corner. Arturo benedetti michelangeli piano bach cantatas website. The sound of the preludes, book1 is less satisfactory the piano seems. Plays debussy by arturo benedetti michelangeli 28944943825. For one, the gorgeous engineering fully captures how the pianist s ravishing, multilayered sound world projected in a hall. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. Arturo benedetti michelangeli pianist 198808 tracks 112 composer. Michelangeli focuses and clarifies with every miraculous stroke of the keys, etching these miniatures in pristine colours, his meticulous technique bathing each scene in brilliant sunshine. Each of debussys preludes, book i 19071910 is a short but substantial work that conveys a particular mood or impression suggested by its title. Release images preludes childrens corner by debussy. Preludes vol 1, images michelangeli with michelangeli, arturo benedetti on cd.
Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. Michelangeli is not a pianist who exudes expressive warmth his presentation strikes us as objective, and thus the beauty of the music seems just that. For one, the gorgeous engineering fully captures how the pianists ravishing, multilayered sound world projected in a hall. Pianist arturo benedetti michelangeli performing debussys preludes and. It is an intriguing, timeless yet assertive, hieratic danse. This prelude turns to antiquity, to the dances at the temple of apollo at delphi, an evocation of a fragment of sculpture, perhaps.