Album

From its lovely cover reproduction of Watteau's Embarkation for Cythera to Erik Smith's lucid yet lush stereo sound, Vladimir Ashkenazy's 1965 Decca recording of Chopin, Debussy, and Ravel was hugely popular in its time. Since his London debut in 1963, the Russian émigré pianist had established his credentials outside the Soviet Union playing the standard Russian romantic repertoire, and with its addition of Debussy and Ravel to Chopin, this recording established Ashkenazy's reputation outside the Russian repertoire. Brightly colorful, brilliantly virtuosic, and deeply poetic, Ashkenazy's approach to the supremely romantic music of Chopin was already well known when he recorded this dashing Scherzo in E major and ravishing Nocturne in B major. His approach to the sublimely impressionistic music of Debussy and Ravel, however, proved revelatory. Full of rushing wind and plunging waves rising to a triumphant climax, Ashkenazy's L'Isle joyeuse is at once highly evocative and absolutely clear. Even better is his Gaspard de la nuit, which, with its mysterious depths, vertiginous heights, and sensuous tempos, is still translucently clean. With a miniscule reduction of the original cover and an excellent remastering of the original stereo sound, Decca's 2007 re-release for Ashkenazy's 70th birthday is well worth hearing by anyone who loves great piano playing.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54 Work Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
1	Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54	10:21			$1.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 2 Nocturnes, Op.62 Work Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
2	No.1 in B	7:37			$1.49
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer L'isle joyeuse, L.106 Work Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
3	L'isle joyeuse, L.106	5:40			$0.99
Maurice Ravel Composer Gaspard de la nuit Work 21:30 Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
4	1.Ondine	6:18			$0.99
5	2.Le gibet	4:48			$0.99
6	3.Scarbo	10:24			$1.99