-1 1

More from Maurice Ravel

Barry McDaniel sings Schubert, Schumann, Wolf, Duparc, Ravel &

Edition Friedrich Gulda – The early RIAS recordings

Edition Sergiu Celibidache | The complete RIAS recordings

Igor Markevitch conducts Ravel, Stravinsky and Honegger

Maurice Ravel | Igor Stravinsky | Arthur Honegger
CD

-1 1

Other productions from this genre

audite catalogue 2006 & sampler

Camille Saint-Saëns
SACD

Romantic Fantasies for Clarinet and Piano

Hexachord - Contemporary Music for two Guitars

E. Franck - R. Franck - C. Reinecke

Catalogue | Piano

audite 92.571|Apr. 2009

EUR20.69 SACD

M. Ravel: Piano Works

Romain Descharmes

Maurice Ravel

"Gleich die eröffnende Schubert-Hommage der „Valses nobles et sentimentales“ gestaltet er mit einem Optimum an Sensibilität und Formsinn. Ähnlich gelungen dann auch seine Wiedergabe des „Gaspard“ und der Sonatine, und die Schlusssteigerung von „La Valse“ habe ich noch nie so wenig klavierauszugsmäßig und bei aller Transparenz so rauschend „orchestral“ gehört wie von Descharmes." (Ingo Harden, Stereo)

M. Ravel: Piano Works

Valses nobles et sentimentales
I. Modéré très franc (01:26)
II. Assez lent (02:53)
III. Modéré (01:28)
IV. Assez animé (01:13)
V. Presque lent (01:28)
VI. Vif (00:41)
VII. Moins vif (02:58)
VIII. Épilogue: lent (05:03)

Gaspard de la Nuit
I. Ondine (06:47)
II. Le Gibet (07:06)
III. Scarbo (09:26)

Sonatine
I. Modéré (04:39)
II. Mouvement de Menuet (03:34)
III. Animé (03:56)

La Valse (12:03)

Supersonic Award for "M. Ravel: Piano Works"

If one were to visualise the history of piano music as a mountainous landscape, the oeuvre of Maurice Ravel would without doubt form a peak within this panorama. It is a Massif Central of its own for the pianistic “mountaineer”. The profile, the seductive attraction and the perfidies of these works have long been known, and it is not only within French pianism that they belong to the canon of 20th century piano music. However, Ravel’s artificial, indirect soundscape challenges the interpreter to extreme levels, demanding virtuosity, a sense of sound and sensitivity. The works recorded for this CD by the young French pianist Romain Descharmes present the quintessence of Ravel’s oeuvre for piano: from the classicist Sonatine via the fantastical world of Gaspard de la Nuit – a milestone in virtuosity in the entire history of piano music – and the ingenious waltz-paraphrases of the Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, to the rarely performed transcription of the world-famous orchestral work La Valse for solo piano. Descharmes’ realisation of the piece and his performance, confidently combining risk and control, impressively reveal what powers can be unleashed in the piano version of La Valse – but also how obsession and tragedy permeate Ravel’s music and require each other.

Romain Descharmes was awarded First Prize in the Dublin International Piano Competition in 2006, leading him to perform recitals on many prestigious international stages. Furthermore he has been awarded prizes also at other international competitions. Romain Descharmes studied at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris with Jacques Rouvier, Christian Ivaldi, Jean Koerner and Anne Grappotte. Frequently he gives recitals in his home country France and abroad. In addition to his solo carrier Romain Descharmes is a much sought-after chamber musician.

Audiophile Audition | John Sunier | April 20, 2010
A fine selection of four great Ravel piano works, beautifully played by a young French pianist and presented in excellent surround sonics. (Although...
CD Compact | Benjamín Fontvella | January 9, 2009
No me extrañaría que a este primer disco se le añadiera en pocos meses uno segundo que completara la integral. Creo que valdría la pena....
Classica | Jacques Bonnaure | January 2, 2010
À trente ans, Romain Descharmes vise haut en enregistrant la moitié de l'œuvre pianistique de Ravel. En dépit de la très importante discographie...
Diverdi Magazin | Ignacio González Pintos | January 6, 2009
Artificioso por naturaleza
Romain Descharmes se aproxima con desarmante exactitud al piano meticuloso de Maurice Ravel
Con esta ingeniosa expresión se autodefinió Maurice Ravel, y difícilmente hallaríamos otra que ilustrara mejor el especial carácter de su obra....
Fanfare | Peter Burwasser | January 11, 2009
First of all, the young French pianist Romain Descharmes (b. 1980) is a very fine artist, possessed of not merely great dexterity, but exceptional...
Fono Forum | Ingo Harden | January 9, 2009
Hoch sensibel
Audite stellt in einer Neuproduktion aus der Jesus-Christus-Kirche in Berlin-Dahlem, traditionsreichem Studioterrain also, den französischen...
Gramophone | Bryce Morrison | January 8, 2009
A major young talent impresses with a first disc of Ravel's solo piano music
Romain Descharmes is a 29-year-old French pianist admirably attuned to the more subtle and elusive sides of Ravel's genius. A prize-winner in many...
International Piano | Guy Dammann | January 7, 2009
When Romain Descharmes gave his Wigmore Hall debut in January 2007, soon after winning the Dublin competition, levels of anticipation and excitement...
International Record Review | Julian Haylock | January 7, 2009
Ravel
Gaspard de la nuit. Sonatine. Valse nobles et sentimentales. La valse.
Ravel's music is so all-encompassing in its absolute integrity (every note has its exact place in an overall scheme) that it possesses an almost...
Piano News | Isabel Fedrizzi | January 7, 2009
Die Lust an der Schwelgerei, am Schweben und Schwärmen durchzieht das Werk Ravels – bei dem dreisätzigen Gaspard de la nuit ist die Beschreibung...
RBB Kulturradio | Ulrike Klobes | July 7, 2009
Von weitem sehe er zwar aus wie ein Schulmeister, aber eigentlich sei er ein kleiner, selbstgefälliger Dandy – so beschrieb Erik Satie einmal...
Scherzo | Santiago Martín Bermúdez | January 10, 2009
Ravel: El encanto y el juego
Qué contraste entre lo percutivo del arranque de los Valses nobles y sentimentales (Moderé tres franc) y el Lento que viene a continuación....
Stereo | Ingo Harden | October 8, 2009
Audite stellt in einer Neuproduktion aus der Jesus-Christus-Kirche in...
The Irish Times | Michael Dervan | August 28, 2009
French pianist Romain Descharmes, first prizewinner of the 2006 Dublin International Piano Competition, here offers a well-made selection of works by...
www.allmusic.com | January 5, 2010
In the middle years of the 20th century, the "go-to" conductor for Stravinsky's Le sacre du Printemps was Igor Markevitch. In fact, EMI went to him...
www.ClassicsToday.com | Jed Distler | January 7, 2009
Pianist Romain Descharmes came to my attention as first-prize winner of the AXA International Piano Competition in Dublin. A 2007 Brahms release...
www.parutions.com | Jean-Jacques Millo | December 24, 2009
Super Audio CD hybride stéréo/multicanal
La musique pour piano de Maurice Ravel n'est pas monumentale par le nombre d'puvres qu'elle comporte, mais, comme le soulignait Alfred Cortot:...
www.SA-CD.net | Polly Nomial | June 22, 2009
A début that augers much promise but fails to deliver in entirety
Romain Descharmes is clearly a pianist of some talent and he chooses a programme of some considerable difficulty - both technically and musically. As...