Debussy: Preludes Books 1 & 2

Debussy: Preludes Books 1 & 2
- AIMARD PIERRE-LAURENT
- MUSICA CLASICA
- INTERNATIONAL
- MUSIC
Passion that is undoubtedly the word that best sums up Pierre-Laurent Aimards attitude to Debussys Preludes. A clear delight can be read in his features, and it also finds expression in his words as he talks about how ideally realised these pieces are, how indefinable and divorced from all rules and norms. At the same time they are very demanding and very rich. They are wonderful labyrinths in sound. The idea of recording them came to him only slowly. He felt no overwhelming need to do so, but a desire to record them gradually imposed itself upon him.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard can never tire of talking about the Preludes. For him, they evoke above all exceptional memories of pianists of the past who played them in such marvellous ways. In his eyes, this is also music that is infinitely colourful and infinitely orchestral in character, requiring the interpreter to conjure up all the instruments of the orchestra. Aimard praises the power of Debussys sonic imagination. It is an imagination that stimulates our own. Our fingers exist to recreate this marvellous realm of fancy.

The Preludes, he believes, also appeal in large part to the intuition. Almost humbly, he insists that they do not demand any great degree of virtuosity. Technique is necessary only to produce the different kinds of tone colours, he says, stressing the cultural context of these pieces. Debussy was a man supremely well versed in the arts, for which he clearly had a permanent thirst. And I think that one can give a lot more to each piece if one tries to understand the sort of artistic environment in which the composer lived.

For Pierre-Laurent Aimard, the Preludes are a reflection of what Debussy saw and read and felt. But they are also reactions to poetic texts. Or else they reveal him amusing himself with literary or historical figures or sights he may have seen. It is a way of distilling moments of life as seen through different filters. Here lies one of the difficulties of this music. Sometimes we know the sources, which may even be very obvious. But at other times it's not clear at all, so we do not know exactly where Debussy is leading us, and this was no doubt intentional. He transforms what inspired him. He was a very secretive man, very turned in on himself, Aimard explains, emphasising just how demanding Debussys music is. And yet it is not necessarily demanding for its listeners. For the latter, Aimard believes, this is above all music that affords pleasure pleasure of both great subtlety and great profundity.
Country USA
Brand Dolce & Gabbana
Manufacturer Deutsche Grammophon
Binding Audio CD
ItemPartNumber 028947799825
Model 028947799825
ReleaseDate 2012-10-09
UnitCount 1
UPCs 028947799825
EANs 0028947799825

Country	USA
Brand	Dolce & Gabbana
Manufacturer	Deutsche Grammophon
Binding	Audio CD
ItemPartNumber	028947799825
Model	028947799825
ReleaseDate	2012-10-09
UnitCount	1
UPCs	028947799825
EANs	0028947799825

Debussy: Preludes Books 1 & 2

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