Oh yes, I agree 100%, this is one of the most stunning piano discs ever recorded! His 'Reflections in the Water' has never been surpassed in my listening experience.
I totally agree with you, except that for « Reflets dans l’eau », I can’t choose between Michelangeli or Arrau who is unbelievable in Debussy’s repertoire !
Agree completely that the Images / Children’s Corner recording is one of the very greatest classical recordings of all time. I remember that soon after the DG LP was released around 1972, the front of the jacket was covered with award stickers from about 4 or 5 review magazines. I saw him at Carnegie and was mesmerized. Never found him to be cold, but always felt he transcended run of the mill emotionalism and sentimentality.
Benedetti Michelangeli has in my opinion performed Debussy like no one else has ever done. Also the two books of Preludes played by him are sensational.
"The recording that made me give playing piano." That cracked me up big time. Yet, how may of us have said the same thing? It's like, "Take it home and put it to bed 'cause it's all over now, honey." LOL
I have never found Benedetti Michelangeli glacial. Formally and aesthetically perfect (except for the hallucinating hair) yes, apollonian as Dave rightly says, double yes. But in many of his performances I also sense much heart.
I think that Michelangeli's Preludes Book II was less well received because by that period in his career the pianist was past his best; his playing had become stiffer and more studied. There's a live 1982 recording of Book II that has mediocre sound, yet far more spontaneous and flexible interpretations.
I sometimes think that the stiffness that sometimes crept into his later work was a side effect of his perfectionism. It seemed to predominate his consciousness to the exclusion of a sense of breathing and elasticity.
Walter Gieseking remains my go-to recording for all Debussy's piano music, even though certain individual works were done better by others. I especially like Oscar Levant's 1940's recordings of "Les Collines d'Anacapri" and "Jardins sous la Pluie." Gieseking's "Pluie" was a drizzle; Levant's, a storm.
These are performances that I keep returning to with delight and always my 'go to'. Interesting your mention of his 'touch'... There's a BBC Legends disc, the one with the Grieg PC I believe, where it includes his warm up. Not that I'm any expert in how a pianist prepares to perform, but I was amazed at how he repeated passages again and again and asked his piano technician to keep modifying the instrument until he got just what he was looking for. So yes, I'm sure there's a lot of his sound in his touch, but it was something hard wired in how he 'heard' the music that he was able to recreate on different instruments through meticulous preparation and tweaking.
Michelangeli's pupil Ivan Moravec played these pieces with the same technical mastery but with more spontaneity and inspiration imo.With Michelangeli everything is polished to death.For me there is no sense of 'in the moment' inspiration always remembering that Debussy wanted his music to sound improvised and without bar lines.Michelangeli's technique is admittedly a wonderous thing however.
A few weeks ago I was at a library book sale, and I figured a serious collector had kicked the bucket or gotten sent off to the nursing home. A dozen big boxes packed full of classical CDs. Among them was the Michelangeli Debussy; the Images, Preludes, and Children's Corner. For a buck. Lucky me.
Bought the CD some thirty years ago and listened to it on innumerable occasions. Was always a little rebuked by the so called coldness in the playing and went on carrying that superficial impression. But never noticed the fine qualities you describe so well. Another proof that learning the piece and knowing it well are not vain at all. Though I don't possess these tools, will try a better hearing.
I almost gave up the piano after trying to master Reverie and then hearing Kocsis play it. I did carry on, so perhaps if Michelangeli's Debussy is as good as Dave says, I might have to avoid it 😊
I have loved listening to this recording for about 40 years now. What an incredible performance!
It got me hooked on Debussy’s piano music . 👍
Oh yes, I agree 100%, this is one of the most stunning piano discs ever recorded! His 'Reflections in the Water' has never been surpassed in my listening experience.
I totally agree with you, except that for « Reflets dans l’eau », I can’t choose between Michelangeli or Arrau who is unbelievable in Debussy’s repertoire !
Agree completely that the Images / Children’s Corner recording is one of the very greatest classical recordings of all time. I remember that soon after the DG LP was released around 1972, the front of the jacket was covered with award stickers from about 4 or 5 review magazines. I saw him at Carnegie and was mesmerized. Never found him to be cold, but always felt he transcended run of the mill emotionalism and sentimentality.
Benedetti Michelangeli has in my opinion performed Debussy like no one else has ever done. Also the two books of Preludes played by him are sensational.
"The recording that made me give playing piano." That cracked me up big time. Yet, how may of us have said the same thing? It's like, "Take it home and put it to bed 'cause it's all over now, honey." LOL
I have never found Benedetti Michelangeli glacial. Formally and aesthetically perfect (except for the hallucinating hair) yes, apollonian as Dave rightly says, double yes. But in many of his performances I also sense much heart.
I think that Michelangeli's Preludes Book II was less well received because by that period in his career the pianist was past his best; his playing had become stiffer and more studied. There's a live 1982 recording of Book II that has mediocre sound, yet far more spontaneous and flexible interpretations.
I sometimes think that the stiffness that sometimes crept into his later work was a side effect of his perfectionism. It seemed to predominate his consciousness to the exclusion of a sense of breathing and elasticity.
Walter Gieseking remains my go-to recording for all Debussy's piano music, even though certain individual works were done better by others. I especially like Oscar Levant's 1940's recordings of "Les Collines d'Anacapri" and "Jardins sous la Pluie." Gieseking's "Pluie" was a drizzle; Levant's, a storm.
This is marvelous but my favourite recording of him is the op 111 by Beethoven live in london for bbc Legends…
These are performances that I keep returning to with delight and always my 'go to'. Interesting your mention of his 'touch'... There's a BBC Legends disc, the one with the Grieg PC I believe, where it includes his warm up. Not that I'm any expert in how a pianist prepares to perform, but I was amazed at how he repeated passages again and again and asked his piano technician to keep modifying the instrument until he got just what he was looking for. So yes, I'm sure there's a lot of his sound in his touch, but it was something hard wired in how he 'heard' the music that he was able to recreate on different instruments through meticulous preparation and tweaking.
I think it's the Testament 1957 London RFH recital disk. There's a 32 min track of "rehearsal and sound-check.". Yes that Grieg! Wow and wow.
One of the greatest recordings of all time, without a doubt.
Suggestion for another: Onslow, Quartets, with the Quartuor Diotima. 👌
You sold me on it -- going to Presto to grab the thing.
Michelangeli's pupil Ivan Moravec played these pieces with the same technical mastery but with more
spontaneity and inspiration imo.With Michelangeli everything is polished to death.For me there is no sense of 'in the moment' inspiration always remembering that Debussy wanted his music to sound improvised and without bar lines.Michelangeli's technique is admittedly a wonderous thing however.
A few weeks ago I was at a library book sale, and I figured a serious collector had kicked the bucket or gotten sent off to the nursing home. A dozen big boxes packed full of classical CDs. Among them was the Michelangeli Debussy; the Images, Preludes, and Children's Corner. For a buck. Lucky me.
Bought the CD some thirty years ago and listened to it on innumerable occasions. Was always a little rebuked by the so called coldness in the playing and went on carrying that superficial impression. But never noticed the fine qualities you describe so well. Another proof that learning the piece and knowing it well are not vain at all. Though I don't possess these tools, will try a better hearing.
I almost gave up the piano after trying to master Reverie and then hearing Kocsis play it. I did carry on, so perhaps if Michelangeli's Debussy is as good as Dave says, I might have to avoid it 😊
May be the next Greatest Recordings EVER video coming will be Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli playing Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #4 and Ravel Concerto
I do disagree with a number of DH's opinions, but this is not one of those. ABM's Debussy recordings are never surpassed.