- One of the few really unique pianists and probably the most important interpreters of French piano music & a Mozart interpreter of high standing.
- Complete recordings of the works for piano solo by Debussy and Ravel
- Essential Mozart recordings: piano concertos under Karajan, all important piano sonatas, quintet KV 452.
- Recordings from 1953 to 1955 still regarded today as absolute reference recordings.
Walter Gieseking is without a doubt one of the most important interpreters of French piano music. Few can compete with him, especially when it comes to Debussy and Ravel. Excellent pianistic skills, a musical culture of expression and a love of the Mediterranean landscape were important sources for Gieseking’s specialty in this genre. The present recordings show a fascinating combination of the highest artistry of touch, nuance and sensitivity, and the pianist meets Debussy’s criteria “Clarté, Elegance” as important and typical characteristics of French music in a congenial way. Gieseking’s complete recordings of the works for piano solo by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel from 1953/54 are still considered absolute reference recordings today. His esteem as a Mozart interpreter is no less high. The piano concerto No. 23 recorded under Karajan is considered a great moment in recording history. For his interpretation of the Mozart sonatas he was given the rating of “ideal Mozart sound” and the recording of the quintet for piano and wind instruments with the Philharmonia Wind Quintet is considered by many to be the recording of a work, which Mozart himself called his favorite composition.
The pianist, who was born in France and grew up and was educated in Germany, spent a lot of time with his father, a doctor and entomologist, on the French and Italian Riviera and got to know the landscape while hunting butterflies with him. He shares a deep admiration for nature with Debussy, about whom he wrote: “I believe that in Debussy’s music the harmony with the forces of life and nature can be felt in the sense of understanding nature, in the sense of admiring its beauty – and these super-personal sensations, which Debussy created in the most perfect musical sound form, together with the splendor of sound, the richness of color and the peculiarity of his tonal language, make his music so beautiful that every musically sensitive person must be touched by it.”
CD 1
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Préludes, Livre / Book / Heft 1
1. I. Danseuses de Delphes (Lent et grave) 3‘07
2. II. Voiles (Modéré) 2‘43
3. III. Le vent dans la plaine (Animé) 1‘57
4. IV. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l‘air du soir (Modéré) 3‘28
5. V. Les collines d’Anacapri (Tres modéré) 2‘46
6. VI. Des pas sur la neige (Triste et lent) 3‘26
7. VII. Ce qu’a vu le vent d’Ouest (Animé et tumultueux) 2‘41
8. VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin (Très calme et doucement expressif ) 2‘21
9. IX. La sérénade interrompue (Modérément animé) 2‘12
10. X. La cathédrals engloutie (Profondément calme) 6‘31
11. XI. La danse de Puck (Capricieux et léger) 2‘24
12. XII. Minstrels (Modéré) 2‘03
recorded 15/16. Aug. 1953
Préludes, Livre / Book / Heft II
13. I. Brouillards (Modéré) 2‘42
14. II. Feuilles mortes (Lent et mélancolique) 2‘59
15. III. La Puerta del Vino (Mouvement de Habanera) 2‘46
16. IV. Les fées sont d’exquises danseuses (Rapide et léger) 2‘43
17. V. Bruyères (Calme) 2‘31
18. VI. General Lavine – eccentric (Dans le style et le mouvement d’un Cakewalk) 2‘25
19. VII. La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (Lent) 3‘47
20. VIII. Ondine (Scherzando) 2‘51
21. IX. Hommage à S. Pickwick, Esq., P.P.M.P.C. (Grave) 2‘07
22. X. Canope (Trés calme et doucement triste) 2‘42
23. XI. Les tierces alternées (Modérément animé) 2‘23
24. XII. Feux d’artifice (Modérément animé) 3‘20
recorded 9/10. Dec. 1954
Total Time 69‘00
CD 2
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Pour le piano
1. I. Prélude (Assez animé et très rythmé) 3‘25
2. II. Sarabande (Avec une élégance grave et lente) 4‘41
3. III. Toccata (Vif ) 3‘37
recorded 17. Aug. 1953
Estampes
4. I. Pagodes (Modérément animé) 4‘08
5. II. La soirée dans Grenade (Mouvement de Habanera) 4‘17
6. III. Jardins sous la pluie (Net et vif ) 3‘19
recorded 12/13. Aug. 1953
Images, Série / Set I
7. I. Reflets dans l’eau (Andantino molto) 5‘00
8. II. Hommage à Rameau (Lent et grave) 6‘26
9. III. Mouvement (Animé) 2‘58
Images, Série / Set II
10. I. Cloches à travers les feuilles (Lent) 3‘46
11. II. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut (Lent) 4‘50
12. III. Poissons d’or (Animé) 3‘11
recorded 13/14. Aug. 1953
Children‘s Corner
13. I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (Modérément animé) 2‘16
14. II. Jimbo’s Lullaby (Assez modéré) 3‘28
15. III. Serenade for the Doll (Allegretto ma non troppo) 3‘09
16. IV. The Snow is Dancing (Modérément animé) 2‘19
17. V. The Little Shepherd (Très modéré) 2‘08
18. VI. Golliwogg’s Cakewalk (Allegro giusto) 2‘42
recorded 26/27. Sept. 1951
Total Time 65‘40
CD 3
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
12 Études
1. I. Pour les cinq doigts (d’aprés Monsieur Czerny) (Sagement) 2‘47
2. II. Pour les tierces (Moderate, ma non troppo) 3‘20
3. III. Pour les quartes (Andantino con moto) 4‘07
4. IV. Pour les sixtes (Lento) 3‘20
5. V. Pour les octaves (Joyeux et emporté, librement rythmé) 2‘15
6. VI. Pour les huit doigts (Vivamente, molto leggiero e legato) 1‘33
7. VII. Pour les degrés chromatiques (Scherzando, animato assai) 2‘03
8. VIII. Pour les agréments (Lento, rubato e leggiero) 4‘08
9. IX. Pour les notes répétées (Scherzando) 3‘09
10. X. Pour les sonorités opposées (Modéré, sans lenteur) 4‘36
11. XI. Pour les arpèges composés (Dolce e lusingando) 3‘08
12. XII. Pour les accords (Décidé, rythmé, sans lourdeur) 4‘54
recorded 7-9,11. July l954
13. Masques (Très vif et fantasque) 4‘14
recorded 18. Aug. 1953
14. D’un cahier d’esquisses (Très lent [sans rigueur]) 4‘41
recorded 15. April 1955
1
5. L’lsle joyeuse (Quasi una cadenza – Tempo: Modéré et très souple) 4‘58
16. La plus que lente (Lent [Molto rubato con morbidezza]) 3‘24
17. Le petit nègre (Cakewalk. Allegro giusto) 1‘29
18. Berceuse héroïque (Modéré [sans lenteur]) 4‘40
19. Hommage à Haydn (Mouvement de Valse lente) 1‘42
recorded 16,18-20. Aug. 1953
Total Time 64‘29
CD 4
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Suite bergamasque
1. I. Prélude (Moderate [tempo rubato]) 3‘32
2. II. Menuet (Andantino) 3‘21
3. III. Clair de lune (Andante très expressif ) 5‘11
4. IV. Passepied (Allegretto ma non troppo) 3‘41
recorded 17/18. Aug. 1953
5. Danse bohémienne (Allegro) 1‘51
6. Reverie (Andantino sans lenteur) 3‘35
7. Mazurka (Scherzando [assez animé]) 2‘18
8. Valse romantique (Tempo di valse [Allegro moderate]) 3‘08
Deux Arabesques
9. I. Andantino con moto 3‘38
1 0. II. Allegretto scherzando 2‘50
11. Nocturne en ré bémol majeur / in D flat / Des-dur (Lent) 5‘49
1 2. Danse (Tarentelle styrienne) (Allegretto) 4‘44
13. Ballade (Andantino con moto) 6‘22
recorded 12/14–16/19/20. Aug. 1953
Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre / for piano and orchestra /
für Klavier und Orchester *
14. I. Andante – Allegro 7‘48
15. II. Lento e molto espressivo 7‘49
16. III. Allegro molto 6‘50
recorded 30. Oct. 1951
Walter Gieseking piano / Klavier
*Orchester des Hessischen Rundfunks
conductor / Dirigent Kurt Schröder Total Time 72‘29
CD 5
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
1. Menuet antique (Majestueusement) 5‘40
2. Pavane pour une infante défunte (Assez doux, mais d’une sonorité large) 5‘55
3. Jeux d’eau (Très doux) 4‘32
Sonatine
4. I. Modéré 4‘17
5. II. Mouvement de menuet 3‘19
6. III. Animé 3‘27
Miroirs
7. I. Noctuelles (Très léger) 4‘17
8. II. Oiseaux tristes (Très lent) 3‘26
9. III. Une barque sur I’océan (D’un rythme souple) 5‘22
10. IV. Alborada del gracioso (Assez vif ) 5‘53
11. V. La vallée des cloches (Très lent) 4‘55
recorded 10–12, 14–17. Dec. 1954
Total Time 51‘26
CD 6
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Gaspard de la nuit
Trois poèmes pour piano d‘apres Aloysius Bertrand
1. I. Ondine (Lent) 6‘02
2. II. Le gibet (Très lent) 5‘48
3. III. Scarbo (Modéré – Vif ) 8‘58
4. Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn (Mouvement de menuet) 2‘00
Valses nobles et sentimentales
5. I. Modéré – très franc 1‘14
6. II. Assez lent (avec une expression intense) 1‘37
7. III. Modéré 1‘23
8. IV. Assez animé 0‘56
9. V. Presque lent (dans un sentiment intime) 1‘06
10. VI. Vif 0‘38
11. VII. Moins vif 2‘27
12. VIII: Épilogue: Lent 3‘10
13. Prélude (Assez lent et très expressif [d’un rythme libre]) 1‘15
14. À la manière de… Borodine (Valse [Allegro giusto]) 1‘25
15. À la manière de… Chabrier 2‘02
(Paraphrase sur un air de Gounod [‘Faust’, Acte II]) (Allegretto)
Le Tombeau de Couperin
16. I. Prélude (Vif ) 3‘13
17. II. Fugue (Allegro moderato) 4‘08
18. III. Forlane (Allegro moderato) 5‘46
19. IV. Rigaudon (Assez vif ) 3‘09
20. V. Menuet (Allegro) 5‘16
21. VI. Toccata (Vif ) 3‘53
recorded 10–12, 14–17. Dec. 1954
Total Time 65‘27
CD 7
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major KV 488 / A-Dur
1. I. Allegro 10‘58
2. II. Adagio 6‘50
3. III. Allegro assai 7‘34
recorded 6. Oct. 1951
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor KV 491 / c-Moll
4. I. Allegro 13‘01
5. II. Larghetto 9‘39
6. III. Allegretto 9‘07
recorded 26. Aug. 1953
Quintet in E Flat major for piano & wind KV 452 / Es-Dur für Klavier und Bläser *
7. I. Largo. Allegro moderato 8‘24
8. II. Larghetto 7‘07
9. III. Rondo: Allegretto 5‘58
recorded 15. & 16. Apr. 1955
Walter Gieseking piano / Klavier
Philharmonia Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Herbert von Karajan
Philharmonia Wind Quartet *
Sidney Sutcliffe Oboe / Oboe
Bernard Walton clarinet / Klarinette
Dennis Brain horn / Horn
Cecil James bassoon / Fagott
Total Time 78‘51
CD 8
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Piano Sonata No. 3 in B flat major KV 281 / B-Dur
1. I. Allegro 4‘38
2. II. Andante amoroso 3‘48
3. III. Rondo: Allegro 4‘58
recorded 1. Aug. 1953
Piano Sonata No. 7 in C major KV 309 / C-Dur
4. I. Allegro con spirito 4‘04
5. II. Andante un poco adagio 6‘08
6. III. Rondo: Allegretto grazioso 6‘10
Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor KV 310 / a-Moll
7. I. Allegro maestoso 4‘19
8. II. Andante cantabile con espressione 6‘50
9. III. Presto 2‘53
recorded 3. Aug. 1953
Piano Sonata No. 9 in D major KV 311 / D-Dur
10. I. Allegro con spirito 4‘34
11. II. Andante con espressione 5‘36
12. III. Rondo: Allegro 5‘55
recorded 4. Aug. 1953
Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major KV 545 / C-Dur
13. I. Allegro 3‘12
14. II. Andante 4‘54
15. III. Rondo: Allegretto 1‘43
recorded 7. Aug. 1953 / 1. Jan. 1954
Total Time 70‘00
CD 9
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major KV 330 / C-Dur
1. I. Allegro moderato 6‘22
2. II. Andante cantabile 7‘09
3. III. Allegretto 5‘17
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major “alla Turca” KV 331 / A-Dur
4. I. Thema: Andante grazioso 7‘28
5. II. Menuetto & Trio 5‘41
6. III. Rondo “Alla Turca”: Allegretto 3‘40
Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major KV 332 / F-Dur
7. I. Allegro 4‘34
8. II. Adagio 4‘50
9. III. Allegro assai 4‘24
Piano Sonata No. 13 in B flat major KV 333 / B-Dur
10. I. Allegro 4‘59
11. II. Andante cantabile 6‘15
12. III. Allegretto grazioso 5‘52
recorded 4. Aug. 1953
Total Time 66‘46
CD 10
■ Walter Gieseking, Piano
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor KV 457 / c-Moll
1. I. Allegro 3‘51
2. II. Adagio 7‘35
3. III. Molto allegro 4‘36
4. Fantasia in C minor KV 475 / c-Moll 11‘53
recorded 6. Aug. 1953
Piano Sonata No. 18 in F major KV 533 / F-Dur
5. I. Allegro 5‘58
6. II. Andante 7‘22
recorded 17. Aug. 1953
Piano Sonata No. 16 in B flat major KV 570 / B-Dur (18)
7. I. Allegro 5‘57
8. II. Adagio 8‘04
9. III. Allegretto 3‘49
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major KV 576 / D-Dur (14)
10. I. Allegro 4‘46
11. II. Adagio 5‘06
12. III. Allegretto 3‘48
recorded 7. Aug. 1953
Total Time 73‘04
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