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48 of 52 found the following review helpful:
 Debussy Favorites in OK Performances, Variable Sound May 23, 2004
By J Scott Morrison
Francois-Joël Thiollier has recorded much of Debussy's piano music for Naxos. This CD appears to be a 'favorites' album drawn from several previous issues. The most familiar and probably the best-loved Debussy pieces are here, beginning with a dreamy (but somewhat soupily-recorded) 'Clair de lune' ('Moonlight'). [The cover illustration is a nice reproduction of Eugène Boudin's gorgeous 'The Effect of the Moon.'] As of yet Amazon has not listed the contents, so I shall do so: Clair de lune, La plus que lente, Arabesque Nos. 1 & 2, Le petit nègre, excerpts from The Children's Corner (The snow is dancing, The little shepherd, Golliwog's cakewalk), La soirée dans Grénade, Jardin sous la pluie, Valse romantique, Tarantelle styrienne, Toccata, Reflets dans l'eau, Poissons d'or, Mazurka, Révérie, The Girl with the Golden Hair, and The Engulfed Cathedral. Thiollier often takes slower than usual tempi, and he often sounds rather deliberate or even stodgy as a result. This is not to say there aren't some quicker tempi taken: 'Le petit nègre' starts off with a real Gottschalkian verve, but when he comes to the second theme he backs off. 'Poissons d'or' ('Goldfish') swim excitedly (and beautifully). 'The snow is dancing' all right, but it seems to be doing a sarabande. These are pretty straight interpretations; one misses the drama or sadness in, say, Golliwog's Cakewalk. I think one problem in all these performances is a lack of crisp articulation. Debussy's soft-edged harmonies can lead a pianist to play in a flaccid, dreamy fashion and that works for some of the pieces, but on the whole Debussy requires more rhythmic spine, and that is often lacking here. The primary thing going for this compilation is the price. But I couldn't recommend it to anyone other than someone on a sharply restricted budget and who wants these particular pieces. For somewhat more outlay, one could have performances by say, the fabled Michelangeli or the spectacular Kocsis or the legendary Gieseking. TT=78:10 Scott Morrison
6 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Debussy's Clair de lune Nov 27, 2010
By Cheryl A. Wilson
"pummy"
I have lost track of the amount of time I have spent listening to this wonderful song. The others on the CD are wonderful also, but Clare de lune is my all time favorite, and it has been since I was just a little girl. I wish I had a piano, I would simply learn to play this song, it is so beautiful, and if I could learn that one, I do believe I would be content to just play it.
If you want truly wonderul music, buy this, you will not be sorry.
Cheryl
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Classic Dec 15, 2009
By Kelli Daggett
I bought this more because of Twilight but I am a fan of classical and piano... Lovely music.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Calgon and Debussy Feb 09, 2010
By Melissa Camilini
"Anti-Melissa"
What can I say about Debussy that hasn't already been said throughout the years. Love his music. It's the only CD I use to relax. Weather I'm in the tub or in my car trying to calm down my road rage Debussy does the trick.
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Heavenly music Apr 14, 2010
By J. Pruitt
If you like lovely piano music, you will LOVE this. Great dinner music. And Clair de lune is the missing song from the Twilight soundtrack. Greatly missed. That is why I bought this, and the whole album is fantastic.
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