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Volume 2 of Bennett Lerner’s ‘Complete Debussy’ presents compositions from the composer’s three periods: early Romantic salon pieces; coloristic and pictorial works from his middle period; and late compositions, in which Debussy headed into abstraction and neo-classicism. In the Douze Études of 1915, Debussy displays his masterful ability to derive an astonishing range of colors, textures and moods from a limited amount of material. Suite bergamasque was written in 1890 while the 22 year old composer was still under the influence of composers including Wagner and Massenet. In the form of a Baroque suite, the Suite bergamasque is Debussy’s tribute to the elegance and charm of the commedia dell’arte. Étude Retrouvée (1915) is an unfinished work. The page numbering indicates that this work was worked on and planned as a part of the Douze Études. The three pieces grouped here as Suite bergamasque No. 2 are from 1905, and were originally intended to be published together as Suite bergamasque. However, the publisher Fromont, in spite of Debussy’s objections, went ahead with the publication of the earlier works grouped under that title, works that Debussy felt were no longer representative of his style. The performances and annotation of Volume I of this CD series were received with glowing reviews. Writing in Audiophile Audition, critic Gary Lemco writes that Vol. One’s “annotation, besides the virtuosity of his playing, testifies to the erudition that illumines every note of Lerner’s execution.”
Also available on Bridge:
Complete Debussy Piano Music, Vol. I, Bennett Lerner, piano, BRIDGE 9186
Complete Debussy Piano Music, Vol. III, Bennett Lerner, piano, BRIDGE 9219
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