Maurice Ravel: L'Oeuvre Pour Piano Seul

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
There used to be an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records to the effect that Ravel wrote the least amount of music of any great composer. And if you look at the orchestrations that he made of piano originals, then the amount of music becomes smaller still. Many of his most popular works, including the ubiquitous Pavane for a Dead Princess, the Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, Alborada del Gracioso, Le Tombeau de Couperin, Mother Goose, and Une Barque sur l'Ocean exist in both orchestral an piano versions, but there's still a good bit of original piano music, including the lovely Sonatine and most importantly, Gaspard de la Nuit. Thibaudet has played all of this music since he started teething: he knows it and loves it, and it shows. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Complete Works For Solo Piano: Serenade grotesque
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Menuet antique
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Pavane pour une infante defunte
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Jeux d'eau
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Moderne
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Mouvement de Menuet
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Anime
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Noctuelles
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Oiseaux tristes
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Une barque sur l'ocean
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Alborada del gracioso
Complete Works For Solo Piano: La Vallee des cloches

Tracks:

Complete Works For Solo Piano: Ondine
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Le Gibet
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Scarbo
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Menuet sur le nom de Haydn
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Modere
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Assez lent
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Modere
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Assez anime
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Presque lent
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Vif
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Moins vif
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Epilogue: Lent
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Prelude
Complete Works For Solo Piano: A la maniere de Borodine
Complete Works For Solo Piano: A la maniere de Chabrier
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Prelude
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Fugue
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Forlane
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Rigaudon
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Menuet
Complete Works For Solo Piano: Toccata

Amazon.com

There used to be an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records to the effect that Ravel wrote the least amount of music of any great composer. And if you look at the orchestrations that he made of piano originals, then the amount of music becomes smaller still. Many of his most popular works, including the ubiquitous Pavane for a Dead Princess, the Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, Alborada del Gracioso, Le Tombeau de Couperin, Mother Goose, and Une Barque sur l'Ocean exist in both orchestral an piano versions, but there's still a good bit of original piano music, including the lovely Sonatine and most importantly, Gaspard de la Nuit. Thibaudet has played all of this music since he started teething: he knows it and loves it, and it shows. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

bleaugh..........2006-05-30

I dont know about anyone else but I'm a bit tired of recordings like this. I mainly bought it for 'Gaspard' because I have heard recordings of him playing all the other pieces.
how IRRITATING! so fast and dry and showy.
In scarbo in particuular there were many speedy dry parts that coupled with a clever recording engineer and the perfect piano seem to attempt to hide the fact that he can be very uneven at times.
Why is this person regarded as such a great Ravel interpreter? His interpretations in this respect are extrely puzzling and very self serving. I personaly regret spending money on it.
I think the next great interpertation of Gaspard will be someone who is brave enough to follow the score as it is.
Michelangeli famously said of scarbo "Vif - lively but not actually as fast as possible"

Hands Down the Finest Recording of the Ravel Piano Works.......2006-02-24

Jean-Yves Thibaudet is the reigning master of the French repertoire for the piano. Not that his talent stops there: a survey of his recordings and performances demonstrate that this is one contemporary master who is equally at home in Chopin, Schubert, Schumann, contemporary works, etc, and he is a fine collaborator with other superb artists. His approach to the keyboard is at once romantic and informed and his technique is dazzling.

The two CD recording does the impossible in demonstrating the Thibaudet can toss of the most lightly fragrant works as well as the formidable challenges of 'Gaspard de la nuit' and the brutally difficult fugue from the elegant 'Le tombeau de Couperin'. Scattered throughout this recital are some rarities such as the 'Sérénade grotesque', the 'Minuet antique', 'Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn', and 'À la manière de. . .' as well as the much loved 'Pavane pour une infante défunte', 'Miroirs' and the 'Valses nobles et sentimentales', each of which Thibaudet transcends the art of impressionist music and takes it to another realm of communication.

But for this listener it is the complete 'Le tombeau de Couperin' that calls for constant replay, so varied are the spirits of the various movements and so surely correct is Thibaudet's touch. And for sheer brilliance this recorded version of 'Gaspard de la nuit' is a pinnacle achievement.

The recording technique used to capture this recital is superb and the presence of the piano is live but never strident. In short, this is a magnificent recording by a consummate artist. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, February 06

clear, personal, and strong interpretations of Ravel.......2004-03-08

I have to admit that I found some aspects of Mr. Thibaudet's interpretations of these pieces disorienting. However, as I got out the scores, worked on some of them myself, and listened to these recordings repeatedly, I can now say that I understand more about what the performer is after. Not that I always agree with him. Another person on this site discussed the staccato in the accompaniment of the Pavane. Yes, the orchestral recordings have a lush almost wet sound and many pianists go for that same sound. But once you look at the score, you see those staccato notes are there. Personally, I would soften that effect; I think this performance does sound a bit too dry. But I understand his choice and enjoy having had my horizons broadened.

Mr. Thibaudet has a very capable facility, lots of technique, and a clear idea of each piece and he delivers it without faltering or compromise. I admire that a lot in a performer. His choices ask us for a reaction and we are free to accept or reject what he has offered us. When I first heard these recordings I was quite stand offish, but over time I have come to enjoy them much more and am grateful to Mr. Thibaudet for his strength of conviction as well as his superior musicianship.

I encourage you to get these recordings because they are a strong interpretation of Ravel. You may love everything about it, or you may reject aspects of his interpretations. But in any case you will be enriched by hearing these pieces in a clear and beautifully personal way. That is an important aspect of why we make music and a reason why these recordings are so valuable.

Masterly Performances of Ravel.......2001-11-21

I cannot agree with the reviewers who are lukewarm about this set. When these recordings first appeared they were hailed by Gramophone magazine as magnificent interpretations of Ravel's piano music, and Thibaudet's Gaspard is still regarded as one of the few recordings of that work that captures the nuances that Ravel wanted.

The works recorded here are beautifully played and interpreted with great sensitivity. This is a set that can be equaled but not surpassed. If you are interested in the music of Maurice Ravel this set is a must.

good, but..........2000-11-03

Plain and simple, a solid set, but I personally feel that Thibaudet is no master interpreter of Ravel. He seems a bit "willful" at times, seeming to go for something different rather than appropriate. His staccato in the first bars of the Pavane is shocking to my ears, and makes this stately piece sound rather clumsy and ambling. The same thing happens in the minuet of the Sonatina and also in Le Tombeau's minuet. Other parts are solid and extremely well-played, but I hate his habit of rushing the time on fast phrases and then slowing down again, as if he is impatient. My pick for the best Ravel set would have to be the underrated Anne Queffelec, available on Virgin Classics for a lesser price.

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