A musical rainbow of Debussy favourites

Debussy’s piano music is performed in glorious technicolour by Nelson Freire in this emotionally rewarding solo recital.

Composer:  Debussy
Repertoire: Préludes Book 1; Clair de lune; Children’s Corner, et al.
Artists: Nelson Freire (piano)
Rating:  5/5
Genre: Instrumental
Label: Decca 478 1111 

After recent award-winning discs of Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven and Brahms, the great Brazilian virtuoso Freire offers a further benchmark with this ravishingly recorded selection of favourite Debussy. This is not the glacially objective view of a Michelangeli but playing of sensuality, vigour and emotional involvement, with a rainbow palette of keyboard colours, quite different from how Debussy is often played. Bold dynamics (‘Le vent dans la plaine’, ‘La cathédrale engloutie’), impish wit (‘La danse de Puck’) and innate taste (Clair de lune) are just some of the qualities that help to make this such an outstanding recital.