In review--Impressions of the Night (Chopin and Debussy)
Classical
Javier Perianes
Les Sons et les
Parfums
Debussy meets Chopin
Harmonia Mundi
Chopin and Debussy were both known for composing diffused
music for the piano, however, while Debussy also composed for ballet, opera,
and chamber ensembles, Chopin strictly composed for piano. Oddly, when I brought up Chopin’s music once
to a colleague, he made a grave error in describing Chopin’s music as “small,”
simply because Chopin composed for a single instrument. Any pianist that has performed Chopin’s
keyboard work would not use the word “small” to describe it.
Even listening to Chopin’s mazurkas and nocturnes, provide
fascinating contours and development of musical themes, despite the lack of a
symphonic or orchestral association. And
even though Chopin did not shout virtuosity like Liszt, Rachmaninoff or
Prokofiev or provide mental gymnastics like Bach, Chopin’s seemingly quiet and
subtle compositions, provide a pianist challenges nonetheless. I even imagine that a less talented pianist
could come off easily as over dramatic or underplay the dynamic passages.
Pianists such as Angela Hewitt and Spanish pianist Javier
Perianes possess the right sensitivity to bring out the fluidity and clarity of
Chopin and the French Impressionist composers’ work. On Debussy
meets Chopin, Perianes tunes into this softer musical terrain, never over
or under playing. This is a musician who
can go from playing an album of Beethoven sonatas to deftly interpreting not
just Chopin alone, but Chopin and Debussy, who have musical connections in
common, but are still two distinct composers.
Perianes explores the connection by matching Chopin pieces to
corresponding Debussy pieces, usually in the same key and with similar themes
such as “night” with Chopin’s Nocturne no
15 and Debussy’s Clair de Lune (two
famous pieces of music that draw upon the night for inspiration).
Since I enjoy the works of Chopin, Debussy as well as, Ravel
(not featured on this recording), I find this recording relaxing and
enchanting. The liner notes and DVD of
performances of a piece by each of the two composers, enriches the listening
experience. And it’s not all quiet or
subtle, since passages from Chopin’s Ballad,
opus 52, erupt from my laptop before dropping back down to pianissimo. And
the closing piece by Debussy, L’Isle
joyeuse, which he composed for his second wife, ends the program with a
flourish. While some classical music fans would turn to a more showy composer when
describing soulful music, I think it would be a mistake to dismiss the
soulfulness found in Chopin and Debussy’s piano compositions. Listened to the right way, these composers
could take listeners on a magical, mystical tour. And on Perianes' recording, these composers receive the royal treatment.
Comments
Post a Comment