VIDEO - Debussy - Suite bergamasque - III. Clair de lune

[carlozangi]

Hi everyone,

I recently performed Debussy's Clair de lune as part of a recital in Vienna.

Despite its popularity, I had barely listened to the piece before learning it myself. For most repertoire, I carry years of accumulated listening experience and many reference recordings in my mind, but with Clair de lune I came to it almost as if it were a new piece.

That made me wonder: how do you approach works that are so famous that audiences already have a strong idea of how they "should" sound? Do you try to distance yourself from established interpretations, or do you see them as an essential part of the tradition?

I'd also be very interested in hearing your thoughts on my performance.

Thanks for your time!

[benbspiano]

Sounds excellent!

Regarding separating oneself from other interpretations, I think that's a much heftier, almost existential question for pianists in the western classical tradition than is often regarded. My main approach is less to concern myself with sounding new and more so to have a clear picture of what I want to express with my playing. That being said, I also feel that there is a real impetus to avoid portraying something blasé. This only really exists because of the existence of recording. I think that the activity of mulling over the contradiction, rather than outright answering it, is what will help lead to a good interpretation.

[essence]

Good performance. It is so well known there are many terrible performances out there.  The first page is difficult to balance rubato and playing what is written. A strong sense of the beat must always be there.

Once that is established, balance and tone can be worked on, as you have done.

[dizzyfingers]

I'd also be very interested in hearing your thoughts on my performance.

I listened to a minute, so the 1st page (for now).
I don't like that piano much for some reason - what is it?
Assuming your an amateur pianist, I'd say nice job - you played it well.
Assuming you want to be a better musician, I'd say you're giving it a fairly traditional interpretation, coming out of the 19th century romantic tradition with your timing and your dynamics, but I think Debussy had a more radical sound in mind - he really had dispensed with 19th century romanticism, you need to remember that when you interpret Debussy. Your dynamics should have more shadings to them, you need to create a more unique palette of sound.

Thanks for posting.  Keep practicing/playing!

[benbspiano]

Your dynamics should have more shadings to them, you need to create a more unique palette of sound.

It sounds like it was recorded on a phone camera to me, which I think contributes to obscuring the dynamic color that may be present. You can hear in the opening balance between the bass and melody that there is some nice registeral tone difference, it gets more obscured along the way though as the automatic gain adjustment flattens more dynamic sections.