Angela Hewitt – Debussy: Suite bergamasque; Children’s Corner; 2 Arabesques & Other Solo Piano Music (2012/2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Angela Hewitt – Debussy: Suite bergamasque; Children’s Corner; 2 Arabesques & Other Solo Piano Music (2012/2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:19:34 minutes | 600 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Hyperion

“This is one of the better offerings for Debussy’s 150th anniversary … it should come as no surprise that Hewitt is a remarkably fine Debussy pianist. This generously filled disc finds Hewitt utterly persuasive in the three suites at its heart … Hyperion captures the sound marvellously … special mention should be made of Clair de lune: it is quite an achievement for its lyrical beauty to be heard afresh.”

Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt has devoted many creative energies to Bach, and it shows in this reading of Debussy favorites (and a few less common works): Hewitt’s is a rather precise and tempo-consistent Debussy, light on the atmospherics but with technical agility to spare. What you’ll think of this may well depend on how you see the nature of Debussy’s break with the French Romantic tradition: did it involve a dryness of expression, or is the usual hazy vision the right one? If your answer tends toward the former, you’re likely to find Hewitt’s playing a revelation here. Even if you don’t, there are many nice moments, like the perfectly balanced grace of Clair de lune (track 9) and of the lesser-known Deux arabesques (tracks 12 and 13). The total mastery of L’isle joyeuse is also going to be attractive for anyone. Conversely, even Hewitt backers may feel that the Children’s Corner is lacking in a certain innocence. The inclusion of the early Danse, composed in 1890, is a bonus for both camps; this tonally adventurous piece, in the cheeky idiom of the Ariettes oubliées, is unmistakably stamped with his personality. The Jesus-Christus-Kirche in Berlin was not really the right place to record this music, but in a less sonorous venue Hewitt’s readings would have come out even more bare.

Tracklist:
1-1. Angela Hewitt – Children’s Corner, CD 119: I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (02:10)
1-2. Angela Hewitt – Children’s Corner, CD 119: II. Jimbo’s Lullaby (03:26)
1-3. Angela Hewitt – Children’s Corner, CD 119: III. Serenade for the Doll (02:52)
1-4. Angela Hewitt – Children’s Corner, CD 119: IV. The Snow Is Dancing (02:41)
1-5. Angela Hewitt – Children’s Corner, CD 119: V. The Little Shepherd (02:50)
1-6. Angela Hewitt – Children’s Corner, CD 119: VI. Golliwogg’s Cakewalk (03:06)
1-7. Angela Hewitt – Suite bergamasque, CD 82: I. Prélude (04:20)
1-8. Angela Hewitt – Suite bergamasque, CD 82: II. Menuet (04:30)
1-9. Angela Hewitt – Suite bergamasque, CD 82: III. Clair de lune (05:36)
1-10. Angela Hewitt – Suite bergamasque, CD 82: IV. Passepied (04:01)
1-11. Angela Hewitt – Tarantelle styrienne “Danse”, CD 77 (05:28)
1-12. Angela Hewitt – 2 Arabesques, CD 74: No. 1, Andantino con moto (04:01)
1-13. Angela Hewitt – 2 Arabesques, CD 74: No. 2, Allegretto scherzando (03:42)
1-14. Angela Hewitt – Pour le piano, CD 95: I. Prélude (04:23)
1-15. Angela Hewitt – Pour le piano, CD 95: II. Sarabande (05:31)
1-16. Angela Hewitt – Pour le piano, CD 95: III. Toccata (04:12)
1-17. Angela Hewitt – Masques, CD 110 (05:03)
1-18. Angela Hewitt – L’isle joyeuse, CD 109 (06:42)
1-19. Angela Hewitt – La plus que lente, CD 128 (04:51)

Download: