Your Favorite Ravel Solo Piano Recordings


I’m not a classical music fan, per se but have begun to explore solo piano works by composers who’ve influenced Jazz piano players.

I’ve been listening on YouTube to Chamayou, Osborn and Thibaudet.

Any others I should consider?

stuartk

Well, Chamayou seams to lead the parade, but I also like Louis Lortie on Chandos as well as Osborne. Pascal Roge's old set on London is also quite good. There is also a new set from a Korean pianist which I have not heard (yet) which is getting high marks, Seong-Jin Cho on DG.

If you're exploring Ravel with an ear for jazz influence, you might really enjoy Samson Françoishis interpretations have a wonderfully fluid, improvisational feel. Also, Marc-André Hamelin brings incredible clarity and technical brilliance to Ravel’s works, especially Gaspard de la nuit. If you’re looking for something a bit more poetic, Michelangeli’s Le tombeau de Couperin is stunning.

If you’re into jazz-inflected classical, you might also check out Kapustin. His etudes and preludes are great.