Search - Claude Debussy, Pascal Rogé :: Debussy: Piano Works

Subtle and Rewarding Recording of Debussy Piano Music

Michael A Pahre | Cambridge, MA | 05/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While Debussy is commonly referred to as an impressionistic composer, many of his works for piano evoke more joyous pleasure and childlike sentiments than the term impressionism might suggest. The Suite Bergamasque, Children's Corner, and Two Arabesques are all examples of this gentle playfulness, where clean melodies and simple harmonies all come together in masterfully crafted vignettes. Some of these works have become standard among young girls learning the piano: Clair de lune (from the Suite Bergamasque) and the first Arabesque.The most original and expressive compositions written by Debussy, however, are none of these but rather the two sets of Images, the 12 Preludes, and the 12 Etudes (the latter of which are omitted from this 2-CD collection). But while Debussy was pushing music towards modernism, only in the Etudes did he begin to embrace the new music; this recording thus contains music more indicative of the 19th century salon than the beginnings of modernism.Pianist Pascal Roge has concentrated his recording output mainly on French works, hence this recording of Debussy comes from the core of his repertoire. His performance throughout is first-rate: a strong rhythmic drive, a wide range of colors in his palette, and some playfulness when called upon. I listened to this recording several times at low volume level, and found the playing competent and innocuous; later, upon listening more carefully and at a higher volume, I realized much more of the subtlety and range of expression at his disposal. Particularly impressive is his light coloration in rapid passages with minimal use of the pedal---thus avoiding the overly sound-washed technique that is the downfall of many a lesser Debussy performer. The first set of Images and the L'Isle joyeuse stand out as the jewels of this recording. Sometimes his tempos can be a touch slow, as in the Children's Corner or the Two Arabesques, but mostly his playing is spot on with carefully considered phrasing and pacing.One peculiarity of this recording is the random ordering of the works, which neither follows their chronological order of composition nor groups them according to style."

Luminescent performances of Debussy's piano music!

Mark S. Carpenter | Austin, TX USA | 03/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD on the suggestion of a former piano professor with whom I studied. I'm really glad I followed his suggestion.



It's a rare performer who can take pieces that we've heard over and over and OVER again, and bring something fresh to them. Pascal Rogé has pulled this off -- and then some!



Of the two CD set, I really can't tell which is my favorite: I'll play one CD, and listen to it over and over again and decide that one is my favorite; then I listen to the other one and the same thing happens!



Which piece is the best? It's really difficult to tell, simply because the playing throughout is of such high caliber! L'isle joyeuse is ecstatic -- the timing of the phrases, the colors achieved are almost miraculous! (This is my favorite performance of L'isle joyeuse, hands down!) Le vent dans la plaine actually conveys the idea of wind moving over a plain; Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest (What the West Wind Has Seen) is just downright creepy in a musical description of an extratropical storm (what was a hurricane, until it lost its tropical characteristics -- but not its wind and the potential for damage).



And then, by contrast, Rogé's performance of Debussy's Toccata has the necessary dryness to pull off the feeling of a clavecin and yet conveys a vivid sense of tonal color!



I've had the CD a week, and I can already tell this is going to be one of my very favorite CDs. I've heard Horowitz and Gieseking playing these pieces, as well -- the Rogé is definitely my favorite. If you're going to buy a comprehensive CD of Debussy's piano music -- this one is the one to get!"

A great performance by a great pianist

B. Brown | Jerusalem Israel | 01/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you ask me - they ought to put Pascal Roge in the series of "Great Pianists of the 20th century". His recordings of Debussy, Ravel and Satie's piano music are among the best I know for these composers, if not the very best. Roge's tender touch is especially good for their dreamy, hovering style. Indeed, in pieces like "l'Isle Joyeuse" I prefer Horowitz's powerful dynamism, and Roge sounds a little pale - but these are the exceptions, not the rule. His performance of the "Reverie" - in my view Debussy's best work and one of the masterpieces of piano music in all times - is touching, exciting, lovely; and so is the "Clair de lune" and many other pieces. Most recommended."