Debussy: Petite Suite

The recent discovery (2008) of the Première Suite d’orchestre for piano, four hands, is a large-scale, sonorous work which reveals Debussy’s interest in constantly evolving form. Derived in part from his incidental music for the Chansons de Bilitis, an evocation of poetic scenes from an ancient pagan world, Six Épigraphes antiques is a colourful work of considerable creative freedom. The Petite Suite includes such well-loved movements as En bateau and Cortège, while the Marche écossaise is heard on this recording in its rare first version.

For the final volume in his Debussy edition for ONYX, Pascal Roge is joined by his wife Ami in a collection of works for piano 4 hands and for 2 pianos.

Since the release of Volume 1 Preludes I & II in 2005, Roge’s recordings of Debussy have been received with critical acclaim. He is the quintessential interpreter for this repertoire.

Following on the heels of its recent portrait CD of the Ensemble Pyramide (CDX21006), Divox presents another recording by the Zurich-based chamber ensemble. Suites Françaises unites arrangements of works by French composers whose paths crossed repeatedly, and are arranged here by the ensembles flautist, Mark Brönnimann. Debussy, Ravel and Pierné are the composers whose pieces convey a vivid overview of French music at the turn of the 20th century.

Volume 6 in Naxos’s popular series presents five highly diverse works in gorgeous orchestrations by Debussy’s colleagues or later admirers. Indeed, pieces such as Clair de lune and Printemps may even be better known in these seductive guises than in their original forms. Of particular interest is Debussy’s sole attempt at composing a symphony, a youthful work imbued with the spirit of French Romanticism, only the first movement of which he completed.

Jun Märkl’s exemplary interpretations of Debussy’s orchestral music have been praised for their “subtle and sensitive readings” (Gramophone). “This is bewitching music-making that should on no account be missed … One of the finest discs Naxos has ever released” Classic FM on Volume 1 (8570759).

A delightful programme of French music for two pianos and four hands from Onyx artist Pascal Rogé and his wife Ami. The music is a mix of the urbane, witty, tender, passionate and dramatic – from Saint-Saëns’ sparkling ‘Wedding Cake’ Caprice, to the passion and eroticism of Ravel’s ‘La Valse’,the drama of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas and the gentle and sophisticated romanticism of Faure’s Dolly Suite.

Paul Chihara’s ‘Ami Suite’ was written for Pascal and Ami, and here receives its world premiere recording.

This volume of Debussy’s orchestral works under Ernest Ansermet brings together all of the composer’s acknowledged masterpieces together with some of the shorter pieces. The rare 1951 recording of Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and the 1949 recording of the Images make their first appearance on CD. Ansermet’s second recording of La Mer – he also recorded the piece for Decca in 1947, 1957 and 1964 – his first of the Nocturnes, and the early stereo version of Jeux are, likewise, all rarities. The anthology is completed with an authentically French-sounding Rapsodie pour clarinette as well as a lush Clair de lune and a delectable Petite suite.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the artlessness, tenderness and magic of the child's world fascinated several French composers. In these sets of pieces for piano duet, each transports the listener to the land of dreams and takes a nostalgic look back to his own early life. With restful languor and penetrating timbre, Gabriel Fauré guides us into the intimate universe of the young 'Dolly' (1893-96). In 'Jeux d’enfants' (1871), Georges Bizet evokes juvenile joys with typically French finesse, poetry and clarity. In his 'Petite Suite' (1889), Claude Debussy offers four tableaux that so charmed listeners to his elegant, supple playing; and finally it is the turn of Maurice Ravel, with his passionate devotion to the theme of childhood, to tell us the tales of 'Ma mère l'Oye' (1908-10), thereby creating one of the most poetic and discreetly lyrical works of his time.

Debussy’s most popular and famous piano piece opens this generously-filled 2-CD programme of piano and orchestral works by the great French composer; Clair de lune is also heard in an orchestral version which opens CD 2.