2CDs
COMPACT DISC 1 (75.15)
DEBUSSY
1. Préludes Book I recorded on 10-11 August 1938 and 9 February 1936
13. Préludes Book II recorded on 21 February 1939
25. Deux Arabesques recorded on 5 April 1939
27. Rêverie recorded on 4 April 1939
COMPACT DISC 2 (78.37)
DEBUSSY
1. Suite bergamasque recorded on 13 March 1931
5. Ballade recorded on 28 May 1949; 6. Danse (Tarantelle styrienne) recorded on 16 October 1948
7. Nocturne recorded on 28 May 1949
8. Estampes recorded on 11 August 1938 and 9 February 1936
11. L’isle joyeuse recorded on 11 August 1938
12. Reflets dans l’eau & Mouvement (from Images Book I) recorded on 9 February 1936 & 11 August 1938
14. Cloches à travers les feuilles & Poissons d’or (from Images Book II) recorded on 11 August 1938 & 31 January 1937
16. Children’s Corner recorded on 31 January 1937
22. La plus que lente recorded on 16 October 1948
WALTER GIESEKING (1895–1956) has long been regarded as one of the supreme interpreters of Debussy, his recordings having achieved almost definitive status. But it’s generally his later recordings from the early 1950s which have been reissued time and time again. His first Columbia recordings, mostly made in the 1930s, are much less known, yet many critics have regarded them as even finer than the later remakes. Here then are these legendary discs in what we consider to be the finest transfers from the original 78s they have ever had.
APR6040 Available on Compact Disc, as a Digital Download and to Stream