Artur Pizarro - The Complete Piano Works of Maurice Ravel, Vol. 1-2 (2007-2008)

Tracklist

The Complete Piano Works of Maurice Ravel, Vol. 1
01. Jeux d'eau, M. 30
02. Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55: I. Ondine
03. Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55: II. Le gibet
04. Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55: III. Scarbo
05. Sérénade grotesque
06. Miroirs, M. 43: I. Noctuelles
07. Miroirs, M. 43: II. Oiseaux tristes
08. Miroirs, M. 43: III. Une barque sur l'océan
09. Miroirs, M. 43: IV. Alborada del gracioso
10. Miroirs, M. 43: V. La vallée des cloches
11. La valse

This challenging programme, including Gaspard de la nuit, well known for being one of the most demanding works in the piano literature, highlights Pizarro as an accomplished Ravel interpreter.

Renowned for his lyrical poeticism and outstanding virtuosity, pianist Artur Pizarro now turns to the music of the French impressionist Maurice Ravel for his fifth recording with Linn Records. The Complete Works of Ravel Vol. 1 follows celebrated albums of repertoire by Chopin and Beethoven and was complemented by Volume 2 in 2008.

In 2006 Artur Pizarro embarked on the complete solo works of Ravel & Debussy in a series of live performances at St John’s, Smith Square in London, as well as in Lisbon and Århus, that met with critical success: "Ravel's La Valse concluded this important undertaking by such a very gifted artist, for its virtuosic difficulties are manifold...his technique and musical qualities were fully up to the astounding demands of the piece" (Musical Opinion).


The Complete Piano Works of Maurice Ravel, Vol. 2
01. Prélude, M. 65
02. Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn, M. 58
03. Sonatine, M. 40: I. Modéré
04. Sonatine, M. 40: II. Mouvement de menuet
05. Sonatine, M. 40: III. Animé
06. Menuet antique, M. 7
07. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: I. Modéré I
08. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: II. Assez lent
09. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: III. Modéré II
10. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: IV. Assez animé
11. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: V. Presque lent
12. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: VI. Vif
13. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: VII. Moins vif
14. Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61: VIII. Épilogue lent
15. À la manière de… Borodine, M. 63/1
16. À la manière de… Chabrier, M. 63/2
17. Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19
18. Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: I. Prélude
19. Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: II. Fugue
20. Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: III. Forlane
21. Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: IV. Rigaudon
22. Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: V. Menuet
23. Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: VI. Toccata

The second disc in this talented pianist's acclaimed Ravel series, Volume Two contains some of Ravel's most cherished piano works.

The widespread acclaim which met the release of Artur Pizarro's first volume of Ravel ensured that the popular pianist would be back to record Vol. 2. "Phenomenal", "scintillating" and "super-refined" were just some of the superlatives used to describe Pizarro's performance. The Complete Works of Ravel Vol. 2 surpasses the incredibly high standards set by Vol. 1 as Pizarro reaches new heights with an outstanding performance.

Pavane pour une Infante défunte, one of Ravel's most popular pieces, is played beautifully in its original piano version. The suite Le tombeau de Couperin pays homage to French music of the eighteenth century whose premiere elicited a warm and enthusiastic reception, a response which continues to this day. Valse nobles et sentimentales is highly stylised and harmonically complex, and is considered of seminal importance for Ravel's future writing. Ravel himself considered the Sonatine too advanced for his supreme pianistic skills. Pizarro's virtuosity is apparent in his notable performance.

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