PHILIPPE CASSARD (piano, France)
CLAUDE DEBUSSY –
From Preludes, Book II, L. 123: No. 5 Bruyères (Heather); No. 7 La Terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (The Terrace of Moonlight Audiences)
La neige danse (The Snow is Dancing) from the suite Le Coin des enfants (Children’s Corner), L. 113
From Preludes, Book I, L. 117: No. 6 Des Pas sur la neige (Footsteps in the Snow); No. 7 Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest (What the West Wind Has Seen);
Piece No. 1 in D flat major Reflets dans l’eau (Reflections in the Water) from the suite for piano Images I, L. 110
From Preludes, Book II, L. 123: No. 8 Ondine
From Preludes, Book I, L. 117: No. 10 La cathédrale engloutie (The Engulfed Cathedral)
From Preludes, Book II, L. 123: No. 1 Brouillards (Mists)
Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain) from Estampes (Prints), L. 100
L’Isle joyeuse (The Joyful Island), L. 106
Pianist Philippe Cassard’s four recitals in one day, featuring all of Claude Debussy’s piano works, were a particular highlight for music lovers. Later, Cassard repeated this huge cycle in London, Dublin, Lisbon, Vancouver and elsewhere. The pianist will present the audience of the Vilnius Piano Festival with a part of this gigantic programme of Debussy’s piano works – compositions illustrating various natural phenomena.
Debussy’s piano works were influenced by the Far East and Frederic Chopin, but the composer developed a distinctive style. Despite the fact that Debussy’s music was not well received by the musical community of the time, he is today recognised as one of the revolutionaries of piano music who broke the established rules of the Western European canon and created new ones. No other composer’s music is said to convey so aptly the pastel flowers shimmering in the rain, the moonlit landscapes, the smoky cafés of Paris and the mysteries of the Far East. When all this is interpreted by Cassard – it is a must-hear.
