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Topic: Ravel the Pianist  (Read 2369 times)

Offline redbaron

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Ravel the Pianist
on: December 28, 2010, 09:31:32 PM
What's all this about Ravel not being a very good pianist? It seems to have been a hotly debated topic for a long time. There's a recording entitled 'Ravel Plays Ravel' on the Dal Segno label featuring the composer playing such demanding works as the Toccata, Le Gibet, Jeux D'eau and Ondine. So he may not be the greatest interpreter of his own pieces but to play Ondine or the Toccata at all requires a fairly predigious technique. So why does the opinion still persist that he was a poor pianist?

Offline birba

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Re: Ravel the Pianist
Reply #1 on: December 29, 2010, 06:02:39 PM
I wasn't aware that opinion existed... :o

Offline redbaron

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Re: Ravel the Pianist
Reply #2 on: December 29, 2010, 11:12:36 PM
Shocking isn't it...?

Offline john11inc

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Re: Ravel the Pianist
Reply #3 on: December 30, 2010, 04:13:50 AM
I really don't think any informed people are out there saying Ravel wasn't a good pianist.  He was known as a formidable pianist before he was known as a composer, and won a couple very prestigious competitions.
If this work is so threatening, it is not because it's simply strange, but competent, rigorously argued and carrying conviction.

-Jacques Derrida


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