The recording of Debussy's Second Book of Préludes on this album was made in 1971 at Hunter College in New York City and is released here for the first time.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Debussy placed the titles of his Préludes at the end of each piece to avoid unduly influencing the performer's interpretation.
Performer Biography
Vladimir Ashkenazy won second prize at the Chopin Competition in Warsaw at age 18, followed by first prizes at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
Composition History
The second book of Debussy's Préludes, though sketched at the same time as the first in 1910, was not completed until three years later.
Recording & Production
The First Book of Préludes was recorded in Vienna in October 2017, 46 years after the Second Book was recorded in New York.
Interpretation
Vladimir Ashkenazy's approach to Debussy's Préludes is conscientious and straightforward, focusing on the composer's intentions and presenting harmonic particularities with delicate touch.
Performer Biography
Vladimir Ashkenazy, the pianist on this album, was born into an artistic household; his father, David Ashkenazy, was a pianist and composer, and his mother, Yevstolia Grigorievna, was an actress.
