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Title: History, Art, Science, Friendship
Review: How do I admire this recording, let me count the ways... (please pardon the awful Elizabeth Barret Browning misquote) To begin with, on the pianist, Robert Casadesus, other than Ravel himself, he is the premier interpreter of his work. Not only that, he was also a close friend and one of the few present at Ravel's meager funeral.On the recordings themselves, they are of a superlative quality. What many interpreters today try to do is make a melodrama of everything. They forget that the composer himself drew inspiration from the machines of the time (his father was an engineer) and thus lose some of the forcefulness and directness of the works. Unfortunately, many today try to drown them in fluff and emotion.Another added benefit of these recordings is the convenience of having them all in one set, digitally remastered of course. As a Ravel fan , I heartily recommend these to all who admire the composer, the pianist, or most importantly, beautiful music.
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