Piano Street Magazine

Nelson Freire’s Impressionist Affinity

July 12th, 2011 in Piano News by | 1 comment

Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire is among the truly great living musicians, and his remarkable musicianship continues to captivate the critics and charm the musical world. Winner of the Gramophone Recording of the Year in 2007 for his Brahms Piano Concertos. Nelson has a special affinity with Debussy’s music and his magical style perfectly suits these luminous works key French piano repertoire, including the famous Children’s Corner and Clair de lune. Recording this Debussy repertoire for the first time on CD, Nelson Freire s soulful interpretation of these expansive impressionistic jewels of the 19th century is eagerly awaited.

“Nelson Freire, the legendary Brazilian pianist and longtime musical partner of Martha Argerich, turns to Debussy. In the accompanying notes he confesses to a special empathy for Debussy and you will be hard pressed to find a recital of comparable warmth, affection and finesse. Here, there is no need for spurious gestures and inflections; everything is given with a supreme naturalness and a perfectly accomodated virtuosity that declare Freire a master pianist throughout. When have you heard ‘Voiles’ given with a greater sense of its mystery or witnessed playing throughout Book 1 of the Préludes more delicate, rapt and precise? There is lightly worn fantasy and expertise in ‘La sérénade interrompue’ and the direction Profondément calme (dans une brumedoucement sonore) is distilled into something close to perfection. Always Freire ‘evokes rather than spells out’ and has one every heard a more subtle or engaging way with ‘Dr Gradus ad Parnassum’ (from the Children’s CornerSuite). Clair de lune, added, as it were, as an encore, is dreamy and magically remote, making you long for further Debussy from this artist. Decca’s sound is warm and brilliant.”

– The Gramophone Classical Music Guide

Debussy Préludes book 1 – Nelson Freire

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Debussy Preludes, sheet music to download and print:

Link to Amazon

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Comments

  • renato says:

    Undoubtly Freire is a great interpret, generally, however I believe that there is a large agree that Michelangeli’ s debussy is something different whose sound recherche seems to be unrelizable until now.

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