Album

This sampler disc from Naxos' series of the complete piano works of Debussy, performed by François-Joël Thiollier, features the most well-known of Debussy's pieces. Thiollier is well-versed in this literature, having recorded all of Ravel's piano works and several French piano and orchestra works for Naxos. What is notable here is not his ability to carefully control the tone color (which is not harmed by the slight distance and echoing of the recording's sound), but his phrasing and overall interpretation. The Arabesque No. 1 is much more relaxed than others' versions, even in the accelerandos. In fact, in most of the works, he takes liberties with the music, usually putting in much more rubato than is normally heard. The Snow Is Dancing is more like "The Snow Is Floating Gently Down" in spots. The Arabesque No. 2 and Danse have more rounded edges than bright sparkles. His interpretations are not necessarily bad-sounding, just unexpected and unusual, if you are at all familiar with these pieces, and it leaves you wondering why he makes the choices he does.

© Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

CD 1
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Suite Bergamasque, L.75 (includes 'Clair de lune') Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
1	3.Clair de lune	5:10			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer La plus que lente, L.121 Work Recorded 1996 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
2	La plus que lente, L.121	4:48			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer 2 Arabesques, L.66 Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
3	No.1 in E: Andantino con moto	5:08			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Le petit nègre (cakewalk), L.114 Work Recorded 1995 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
4	Le petit nègre (cakewalk), L.114	1:29			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Children's Corner, L.113 Work Recorded 1995 8:56 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
5	4.The Snow is Dancing	2:54			$0.99
6	5.The Little Shepherd	2:55			$0.99
7	6.Golliwog's Cakewalk	3:07			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Estampes, L.100 Work Recorded 1996 9:15 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
8	2.La soirée dans Grenade	5:29			$0.99
9	3.Jardins sous la pluie	3:46			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer 2 Arabesques, L.66 Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
10	No.2 in G: Allegretto scherzando	3:37			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Valse romantique, L.71 Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
11	Valse romantique, L.71	3:31			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Tarantelle styrienne, L.69 Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
12	Tarantelle styrienne, L.69	5:14			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Pour le piano, L.95 Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
13	3.Toccata	4:00			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Images, Book 1, L.110 Work Recorded 1996 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
14	1.Reflets dans l'eau	5:19			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Images, Book 2, L.111 Work Recorded 1996 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
15	3.Poissons d'or	3:54			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Mazurka, L.67 Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
16	Mazurka, L.67	3:06			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Rêverie, L.68 Work Recorded 1994 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
17	Rêverie, L.68	4:23			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Préludes, Book 1, L.117 Work Recorded 1996 10:19 François-Joël Thiollier Piano
18	8.La fille aux cheveux de lin	2:14			$0.99
19	12.Minstrels	2:08			$0.99
20	10.La cathédrale engloutie	5:57			$0.99