Monique Haas Plays Debussy & Ravel [Box Set]

• Main performer: Monique Haas
• Booklet languages: English, French, German
• Time: 430:36

Review

French pianist Monique Haas recorded the piano works of Debussy and Ravel twice, once in the late '50s and early '60s for Deutsche Grammophon and again in the late '60s and early '70s for Erato. The later recordings are released here in this six disc set from Warner Classics. As on the earlier set, Haas' performances are elegantly stylish, technically impeccable, consummately musical, and quintessentially French. Pick any piece by either composer at random, and you'll see. Try her bright but sensual Suite Bergamasque with its ravishing Clair de lune or her brilliant and visionary Études with their astounding concluding Pour les accords. Or try her recklessly virtuosic Gaspard de la nuit with its frightening Scarbo or her sweetly swaying Valses nobles et sentimentales with its heartrending Épilogue. There are only two meaningful differences between Haas' recordings: in the earlier performance, she is more passionate and impetuous while in the later performances she is more measured and thoughtful. In the DG recordings, the sound is mostly monaural though still clean and clear, while in the Erato recordings, the sound is entirely stereo and thus warmer and rounder, though no less clean and clear. Anyone interested in the composers, the repertoire, or this French pianist of the twentieth century should hear Haas' Debussy and Ravel -- in either or both recordings. ~ James Leonard, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Claude Debussy	Danse bohémienne, for piano, L. 9	1:54
Claude Debussy	Arabesques (2) for piano, L. 66	7:26
Claude Debussy	Rêverie, for piano, L. 68	4:26
Claude Debussy	Ballade (slave), for piano (or piano, 4 hands), L. 70	5:59
Claude Debussy	Tarantelle styrienne (Danse), for piano (or orchestra), L. 69	5:39
Claude Debussy	Valse romantique, for piano, L. 71	3:07
Claude Debussy	Nocturne, for piano, L. 82	6:39
Claude Debussy	Mazurka, for piano, L. 67	2:57
Claude Debussy	Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75	18:28
Claude Debussy	Pour le piano, suite for piano, L. 95	14:14
Claude Debussy	Hommage à Joseph Haydn, for piano, L. 115	2:19
Claude Debussy	Images (3), for piano, Set I, L. 110	16:18
Claude Debussy	Images (3), for piano, Set II, L. 111	13:37
Claude Debussy	Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117	42:13
Claude Debussy	Le petit nègre, cakewalk for piano, L. 114	1:46
Claude Debussy	Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123	39:02
Claude Debussy	Estampes, for piano, L. 100	14:14
Claude Debussy	Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113	15:24
Claude Debussy	Études (12) for piano in 2 books, L. 136	45:56
Claude Debussy	L'isle joyeuse, for piano, L. 106	5:36
Claude Debussy	D'un cahier d'esquisses, for piano, L. 99	4:58
Claude Debussy	Masques, for piano, L. 105	4:57
Claude Debussy	La plus que lente, waltz for piano (or orchestra), L. 121	4:04
Claude Debussy	Berceuse héroïque for piano (or orchestra), L. 132	3:56
Maurice Ravel	Miroirs, for piano (or orchestra)	31:22
Maurice Ravel	Jeux d'eau, for piano	5:40
Maurice Ravel	Pavane pour une infante défunte, for piano (or orchestra)	7:10
Maurice Ravel	Menuet antique, for piano (or orchestra)	6:28
Maurice Ravel	Prélude, for piano	1:44
Maurice Ravel	À la manière de. . . , for piano	3:53
Maurice Ravel	Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn, for piano	2:09
Maurice Ravel	Ma mère l'oye, for piano, 4 hands (or orchestra)	14:48
Maurice Ravel	Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano	22:23
Maurice Ravel	Gaspard de la nuit, for piano	21:58
Maurice Ravel	Sonatine for piano in F sharp minor	12:03
Maurice Ravel	Valses (8) nobles et sentimentales, for piano (or orchestra)	15:49

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