Classical Aficionados: Please Suggest Debussy Solo Piano recordings

I think some of the finest, and current, recordings are the complete set issued individually, by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet on the Chandos label. Another set issued individually is by Noriko Ogawa on BIS. Very different from Bavouzet, more relaxed perhaps. And, one of my favorites, the 12 Etudes by Mitsuko on a Philips disc. And last, but not musically so, Debussy’s Preludes Books 1 & 2 by Paul Jacobs on the Non Such label. He also does the Etudes Books 1 & 2 and on a separate disc Images, Estampes, and Images series II.

I do not have any Arrau recordings to compare these to.

I buy from Presto in England. Stuff is priced well and often stuff is one sale. Delivery is normally 10 days, +/-. An when not available there I often buy from Amazon. As a Prime member I get shipping free for most stuff. I like Presto much more than Amazon - the have a great web site.

I erred! I left off Mitsuko's last name. Uchida. So much for my proof reading!:-)

edcyn, Glad you like it. You just can't have too much Debussy. :-) Now for something a bit more relaxed, try Ogawa's. She's really pretty good! Recording is too.

stuartk, Good move on the Debussy selection, he is currently my 1st choice. I’m not not sure where to take you on further selections, You haven’t mentioned any other composers you may have already heard and liked or not. Personally I listen a lot to the well known greats, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Prokofiev, Ravel,  Schubert and Schumann (and of course Debussy). If you have any interest in these composers I’ll be happy to recommend some specific pieces/performers.

A little off the beaten path but music you might enjoy is music by Scriabin and specifically performances by Maria Lettberg on the Capriccio label. Next, for something a little different but very interesting music by Gottschalk. Think Cuban. I listen to Philip Martin on the Hyperion label. For something big and bold, try Rachmaninov. His Preludes are a good place to start. Lots of pianists to go to but musically speaking Ashkenazy is a good place to start. Old recording on the London label and includes in addition to the Preludes, Sonata #2. Antigrundge2 mentioned Prokofiev. Two recordings that are easy to start with are on the Harmonia Mundi label and performed by Frederic Chiu - "Transcriptions" in Vol IX and Romeo and Juliet etc in Vol IV. If you like Bavouzet I think you might like Chiu.

Have fun, lots of stuff out there to hear. :-)

stuartk, A suggestion for you in your search. Rather than trying to find a composer which might prove difficult as their body of music can be vast and very different piece to piece, if you pick a sour one it might be least representative of his other works, you can try getting compilations of works by pianists and labels in which you will discover a lot of diversity which would otherwise elude you. I would recommend if you chose this method to start with recordings from Steinway & Sons (and Jenny Lin). For some other current pianists who do compilations, i.e. programs as you would hear in concert, you could try Stephen Hough, Imogen Cooper, and Yuja Wang. BTW, Beethoven’s music for solo piano is profound and worth some listening effort, and if interested, Bavouzet has a worth while set out that I like. This is meat that sticks to the bones! but maybe for a bit later perhaps.

BTW, I love Jazz - I got started exploring this by listening to side men on recordings that I liked (as well as other recordings by the principle performer. Started with Evans, Peterson, Getz, Previn, etc. My only complaint about a lot of jazz from the 50’s thru 70’s is ’drums’. I like them live but not so much in my home. Jones, Jamal, and Jarrett, Peterson are my go to pianists. And I love Charlie Haden’s recordings, all of them!

Have fun.

Last post, I swear! :-)

Lots of folks don't care that much for Bach, including me, but a lot of folks are anchored to him so maybe he has something that might appeal to you. When you get a chance pull up and listen to the Goldberg Variations, and preferably by a new young lady of substantial skills, Beatrice Rana, on the Warner Classics label.

BTW, re drums I really like them when they are used to support the music but when the drummer is spot lit and gets to beat the crap out of those poor cylinders without any 'musical' accompaniment I can take a pass. :-)