Ravelcontext's channel

The divine Helene, how I miss our days at the Academie Maurice Ravel in St Jean de Luz! You beautify the world and my world with your playing. Thank you.

The sound and the video are not lined up! I can't watch, though it sounds good, and they are both attractive young men!

One of the earliest American advocates for French music, he organized Ravel's 1928 tour of the USA . . .

A beautiful performance by an artist who could not overcome his self-destructive tendencies, and died too young!

Gorgeous tempo and stylish . . .

Reminds me of my coaching sessions with her in the mid-1980s!

I coached with Mme Lefebure in the mid-1980s, and she was an inspiring teacher. Her Ravel was "better" than this Debussy. But still, French style is evident in the touch.

Not the best example of Vines' legacy, but he DID know Debussy and Ravel after all . . .

I was AT this concert, in a stage seat, with a privileged view of the master at work (play?). Evocative.

Too much push and pull, and agression. Not the right "mood" in my opinion.

I love Gieseking in general, but this "L'Isle joyeuse" suffers from a "rushed orgasm"! But the virtuosity is undeniable.

Stylish and incredibly fast! She was Ravel's favorite pianist too.

Stylish and light, from a master . . .

The ultimate in tonal control and line. Who cares if it's "slow"er than they're used to hearing in this piece?!

Superb style. This piece was given its world premiere by no less than Maurice Ravel in 1910, Debussy's "rival," so to speak. He not-so-secretly admired him; his followers made the "war" worse than it really was between the two.

A combination of beauty, but also a too aggressive approach to this "elegy." Entremont's strengths are more in the rapid virtuoso material.

Beautifully proportioned performance, mellow tone.

So stylish and light! Wonderful

The same virtues as their performance of the first mvt. Excellent ensemble, balance, exciting virtuoso propulsion. In this case, the fast tempo works better.

stylish and connected to the period via great teachers and knowledge of Faure himself, who died only 11 yrs prior to this recording

feather light! wow

the fact there is so much controversy around this interpretation already shows the originality of this artist. so what if everyone doesn't "agree"?

although I wonder what would happen if some Delilah ever cuts off his hair! haha

A beautiful, heartfelt, and "einfach" performance. I congratulate this young pianist on his beautiful playing!

"Einfach" (simply) perfectly rendered. I'm sorry the artistry of Yves Nat isn't more widely known, especially in the US

Helene is a treasure!

I went to school with Helene Grimaud, and i must say, altough I'm sure many of your focuses will be on the oboe, she really adds the deeply considered soul to the piano part, as I recall from our student days together!

I wish I knew who the horn and [piano players are! Nice rendition, oh now it showed up on screen. Jacques Fevrier pianist is practically definitive, having known Poulenc well and served French music with great style over the years

normally a fine interpreter of this style and composer, this is a mistake! (rare)

generally captures the french style and spirit

also at the end, seven measures with no change, and then the last three. have some pedaling courage! it's the style!