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.
Prelude
Menuet Sur Le Nom D`Haydn
Sonatine - Modere
Sonatine - Mouvement De Menuet
Sonatine - Anime
Menuet Antique
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Modere
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Assez Lent
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Modere
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Assez Anime
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Presque Lent
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Vif
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Moins Vif
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales - Epilogue : Lent
A La Maniere De? Borodine
A La Maniere De? Chabrier
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
Le Tombeau De Couperin - Prelude
Le Tombeau De Couperin - Fugue
Le Tombeau De Couperin - Forlane
Le Tombeau De Couperin - Rigaudon
Le Tombeau De Couperin - Menuet
Le Tombeau De Couperin - Toccata
January 2009
“…at its best his playing evinces an ease and naturalness that makes his overemphasis elsewhere regrettable. He excels in the Sonatine's virtuoso finale, where, as instructed, he is brilliantly animé, and his Toccata from Le tombeau de Couperin has real pep and articulacy...”
21st September 2008
“Ravel's liquid keyboard music runs like cool, clean water through the expert hands of pianist Artur Pizarro. His refined sensitivity to this gossamer repertoire makes this, his second album of Ravel, a recording to treasure.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
Prelude
