Soloists
Jean-Yves Thibaudet,
Paul Meyer, Alexandre Doisy, and
Emmanuel Ceysson all take their star turns with the wonderful
Orchestre National de Lyon in
Debussy works that feature various instruments. Perhaps the most grand and impressive piece on the album is the Fantaisie for piano and orchestra.
Thibaudet's piano is recorded with crystal clarity, and his performance sounds very bright and clean. The Andante leads into an Allegro that is active, athletic, and sparkling as
Thibaudet chooses to interpret it. The Lento…Allegro molto begins extremely quietly, shimmering, radiant
Debussy at his best. One hears premonitions of
Rachmaninov, with a warm lush sound and an almost 20th century tonality. The second half is of a different character entirely. Here, the orchestra is extremely precise, thanks to conductor
Jun Märkl's direction that makes each instrument clearly audible. This portion of the music is more like a dialogue between the orchestra and piano, and a violin solo line sings above.
Debussy has written quite a fanfare ending, demonstrating that
Debussy was not merely about color and atmosphere. The Première Rapsodie for orchestra with principal clarinet is a prime example of the orientalism in European art and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its mysterious beginning with the clarinet and strings gives way to a rather odd piece that skips around.
Paul Meyer's clarinet is so liquid and technically flawless, when playing both legato or with rapid agility, that it is a delight to hear. The same could be said for Alexandre Doisy's solo, the Rapsodie for saxophone and orchestra; the saxophonist is smoothly integrated into the orchestra, even amidst the powerful brass. Deux Danses for harp and strings are indeed a showcase for the ethereal instrument. The combination of the harp and
Debussy's gift for understanding timbre are just right.
Ceysson's harp builds in intensity and acceleration so perfectly, accompanied by an orchestra that follows with perfect synchronicity. The second dance is playful and bright, a lively little piece. While some of the compositions here are not
Debussy's best-known, they are nonetheless enjoyable, and the excellent musicians deserve to be heard.