Uchida's Debussy Etudes cd

[Rach3]

Listened tonight to Uchida's Philips cd, ca.1990,of the Debussy Etudes ( my other is late Paul Jacobs' Nonesuch lp ).Amazing music, amazing playing, been too long since I listened to this cd. Perhaps my exposure too limited, but seem to see more live recital attempts at the complete Liszt TE's and Chopin Etudes complete than attempts at the Debussy complete. Have a look at the scores ; eg., # 2 for thirds makes my wrists ache just looking at the score : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FymZsN_NiB4

[maestrob]

Listened tonight to Uchida's Philips cd, ca.1990,of the Debussy Etudes ( my other is late Paul Jacobs' Nonesuch lp ).Amazing music, amazing playing, been too long since I listened to this cd. Perhaps my exposure too limited, but seem to see more live recital attempts at the complete Liszt TE's and Chopin Etudes complete than attempts at the Debussy complete. Have a look at the scores ; eg., # 2 for thirds makes my wrists ache just looking at the score : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FymZsN_NiB4

I've had that CD since it was first issued, and IIRC I heard her perform The Sunken Cathedral in Carnegie Hall around that time. Her Debussy is magical, no question.

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet has recorded all that Debussy wrote for solo piano, and I recommend him highly as well. A shame Uchida never did a complete Debussy project.

[Lance]

Uchida IS, indeed, a magical pianist. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Marlboro Festival in Vermont … a lovely person. I'm not familiar with Bavouzet (see Brian, I don't have EVERYTHING!). How does, to you, these Debussy Etudes compare to the great Walter Gieseking who was so well noted for his impressionistic music?

[maestrob]

Uchida IS, indeed, a magical pianist. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Marlboro Festival in Vermont … a lovely person. I'm not familiar with Bavouzet (see Brian, I don't have EVERYTHING!). How does, to you, these Debussy Etudes compare to the great Walter Gieseking who was so well noted for his impressionistic music?

Gieseking is (was) outstanding, IMHO, in Debussy: He set the standard. However, I find myself returning to Bavouzet more often because he had more than a 70 years of performance history to study since Gieseking's remarkable set was issued originally, and I find that modern sound brings out deeper insights into Bavouzet's more subtle interpretation. Of course, I strongly recommend that you listen online before you buy, but the CDs I have are full of great playing with subtle colorations abounding. HIGHLY RECOMMEDED, these are definitely five star recordings!