Ravel: Ondine

[electrafingers]

New recording of Ravel's Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit. Comments are welcome.

[pianistimo]

wow!  this is amazing!  it's so 'watery.'  can you remind me of the story of 'ondine.'  i forgot it.  something about the 'gods' on the waters or something?  it reminds me of rain on water.  your pedalling is amazing.  how you hold just the right amounts and depth.

[brewtality]

I think I like your old version better. It seems to me that the right hand kinda 'died' occassionally at the beginning whereas I feel it should just be steady. Shimmering. Still well played. All of your recordings that you've posted have impressed me greatly. Do you have a new scarbo as well?

[ilikepie]

Ondine, an oneiric tale of a water fairy singing to seduce the observer and accompany her to visit her kingdom deep at the bottom of the lake in the triangle of water, fire and earth.

[gruffalo]

very beautiful playing, i enjoyed it very much.

Gruff

[electrafingers]

Marik -
Thanks. I'm still b'aretz. I study with Tomer Lev now. I haven't studied with Natasha (Tadson I assume), have you? Where do you live now?

brewtality -
I didn't really understand what you meant by the right hand dying. I think this recording is better than the older ones, the tempo is a little slower and I think the mood is more compatible. But it's also a matter of taste. Thank you anyway.

[rachfan]

Hi Electrafingers,

Ondine is a pinnacle of the repertoire.  I love your rendition of this piece!  It perfectly captures the pleading enticements of the water sprite Ondine .  I'm impressed with your powerful technique totally in the service of artistry in this recording.  The sensuous phrasing blends seamlessly with an extraordinary tonal palet in your playing, perfect attention to dynamics, and so many beautiful nuances throughout.  A sensitive pedal maintains clarity of line at all times.  Altogether, I believe you succeed in recreating the exact mood Ravel intended.   Congratulations of your excellent performance, and thanks for sharing it with us at this forum! 

[brewtality]

brewtality -
I didn't really understand what you meant by the right hand dying.

Sorry, I should have been more articulate. I listened again while following the score. I am referring specifically to the first 2 pages. Before each (or some in any case) new phrase, you make a tiny pause, I feel that the right hand should be steady throughout. I think you impede the flow of the music by doing this, and lose the tension (albeit momentarily). It is just a matter of taste though and it is a minor quibble, overall your playing is excellent.

[etudes]

Nice playing at 2nd San Marino Piano competition!
good luck for the 2nd round 

[electrafingers]

Hi etudes,

Thanks a lot, but I didn't get through to the second round.
May I ask who are you? Were you listening through the interent?

[henrah]

I have never heard this piece before. It was a wonderful first experience!

Thankyou,
Henrah

[Floristan]

Beautifully played!  Thank you for sharing this!

I have Argerich in my head whenever I hear Gaspard, so I always expect a very fast tempo, but that's Argerich.  She's on the fast side with everything, sometimes too fast.

The tempo you picked this time out is perfect, as it is totally convincing.  At this tempo the seduction which is Ondine comes out clearly.  Fine, fine playing.

[gruffalo]

Beautifully played!  Thank you for sharing this!

I have Argerich in my head whenever I hear Gaspard, so I always expect a very fast tempo, but that's Argerich.  She's on the fast side with everything, sometimes too fast.

The tempo you picked this time out is perfect, as it is totally convincing.  At this tempo the seduction which is Ondine comes out clearly.  Fine, fine playing.

Roge's has beaten Argerich in my rankings of this work. his is simply amazing, especially his scarbo.

[rachfan]

On recordings, I think very highly of Lortie's.  The piano sound is very rich there too.  Gieseking's is certainly a classic, but he made two.  I'm referring to his earlier one.