Who Is the best playing Ravel??

[dreamplaying]

What is your opinion?....

Many versions of Ravel's piano music, but I have to say that Samson  François is by far the best playing Ravel .....(Gaspard de la Nuit.....Scarbo is the finest version among all).

[steinwayguy]

What is your opinion?....

Many versions of Ravel's piano music, but I have to say that Samson  François is by far the best playing Ravel .....(Gaspard de la Nuit.....Scarbo is the finest version among all).

I'd agree, although Argerich is fair game too.

[nicko124]

Pascal Roge has been great listening for me but the only other good recordings i have heard are Vlado Perlemuter . To be honest they have both ben really powerful recordings but i am not sure if they are the best. You should consider though that Perlemuter studied the music with Ravel himself.

Maybe it is better to pick the best recordings for specific Ravel works rather than everything unless there is one performer who wins hands down for everything.

[Alde]

The Canadian pianist Louis Lortie plays phenomenal Ravel.

[shasta]

Moravec
Ravel (piano rolls)
Roge
Gieseking
Thibaudet

[Floristan]

IMO, Argerich's "Gaspard" from about 1976 on DG is perfection.

[pianomann1984]

I agree - Argerich's Gaspard has not yet been surpassed IMO.  However, for pure beauty of sound and excitement in all Ravel's other works,  Gieseking's recordings are sublime.

[dreamplaying]

I fully Agree with your comments on Argerich, Gieseking, Lortie . Roge,...., etc.  when playing Ravel, but just one thing... This morning (on www.radioclassique.fr) I Listened to a new version (for me) of Ravel’s 1st piano concerto with Zimmerman …highly superior to Argerich’s Deusche Grammophone recording (from any point of view).

This Zimmerman’ version is quite similar to that one of Samson François, recorded in August 1959. Have a look here for more details

https://www.iclassics.com/productDetail?contentId=7403 

But I strongly recommend to listent to François’s Gaspar de la Nuit…is certainly Monumental… the best of all so far.

[Jacey1973]

Moravec
Ravel (piano rolls)
Roge
Gieseking
Thibaudet

I heard that Ravel himslef wasn't a brilliant pianist. Apparently the piano roll of him playing his Toccata (from Tombeau de Couperin) was played much too slow - but later research suggests that that had something to do with the actually recording than Ravel's playing.

Didn't Vlado Perlemuter say Ravel had short, stubbly thumbs which made them ideal for glissandi?

[odsum25]

Perlemuter and Giesking work quite well for me.

[upright]

Has anyone heard Robert Casasdesus? I heard that his crystalline technique transforms Ravel into fine gems or something like that.

[Floristan]

Off-topic a bit...

RE: Ravel's small hands: Wasn't Ravel about 5'3" (160 cm) tall ?

[maxy]

Gieseking and Samson François are big references for both Ravel and Debussy. 


Argerich and ABM are also excellent for Ravel.  I am surprised ABM was not yet mentionned.

How about Richter's Alborada and Valse noble et sentimentale? 

[gregory4249]

For me the best recording I've heard is the complete Ravel solo piano works by Abbey Simon.
I've listen to Gieseking, Thibaudet, Casadesus and feel that Abbey Simon's musicianship is spot on. In Simon's hands, every piece is glorious.  Ravel is one of my favorite composers, and I've listened to this recording countless times.  I just think Simon "gets it" in a way the others don't.
I give it my highest recommendation.

[patrickd]

I enjoy listening to ABM.

[cmg]

I really don't know why I bother . . .

[vsrinivasa]

Off-topic a bit...

RE: Ravel's small hands: Wasn't Ravel about 5'3" (160 cm) tall ?

He was about 5'4" if I remember correctly. I'm over a foot taller than he was.

[teosoleil]

It is my opinion that Gieseking has a phenomenal understanding of tone and touch (pick up his book on piano technique--a must read). His Jeux d'eau sparkles like crystal clear water.


I know this sounds shallow, but Argerich plays phenomenal Ravel as well. This is one of the many cases where her speed and fire really do mark her interpretations as one of the best. Instead of listening to her Gaspard, try her Sonatine .

This post reminds me that I need to listen to a lot more Ravel-pianists, haha.

[camille101]

Perlemuter had a perfect understanding of Ravel's music, I'd recommend his Ondine as an example.  Really the best realisation of the piece I have heard.
Casasdesus has a lovely Sonatine video on youtube that is well worth looking at.
Yvonne Lefebure has an incredible touch in Jeux D'eau - the closest thing to 'musical water' I've come across.
Cortot also brings his poetic tone to Ravel's music, though he didn't play much.
And Francois' Scarbo is simply the best I've heard !

[sehmett]

Please, could you give feedback on this performance? It's not from "the best playing Ravel" but I'd appreciate your opinion a lot! 

[worov]

What about Pogorelich's Gaspard ?

[chopin2015]

Ashkenazy
Giesking
Sokolov

[celegorma]

Magical live recording of Miroirs by Richter.

[chopin2015]

Magical live recording of Miroirs by Richter.

Anything by Richter is amazing...that is implied in any rep/performance/recording question! 

[louispodesta]

Duh!