Claude Debussy - Préludes I & II (Eric Heidsieck)

Information

Composer: Claude Debussy

• Préludes, Book 1, L. 117 (2026 Remastered, Paris 2007)
• Préludes, Book 2, L. 123 (2026 Remastered, Paris 2002)

Eric Heidsieck, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording

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Claude Debussy’s 24 Préludes, composed between 1909 and 1912, represent one of the defining achievements of piano literature, extending the tradition of Bach and Chopin while moving beyond conventional tonal structures. Rather than exploring all major and minor keys, Debussy creates atmospheric and poetic sound worlds shaped by modal harmonies, fluid textures, and subtle coloristic effects. Emerging from the artistic evolution begun in Estampes and Images, these works evoke shifting moods and dreamlike impressions rather than literal scenes. In this interpretation, Éric Heidsieck, following the legacy of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, reveals each prélude as an intimate and self-contained musical universe, combining refined virtuosity, expressive nuance, and exceptional tonal beauty.

Éric Heidsieck (born 1936) is a distinguished French pianist, composer, and educator whose international career spans more than six decades. A child prodigy, he gave his first recital at age nine and later studied with renowned musicians including Marcel Ciampi, Alfred Cortot, and Wilhelm Kempff. Celebrated for his interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven, Fauré, and Händel, Heidsieck earned multiple Grand Prix du Disque awards and became the first French pianist of the twentieth century to perform Beethoven’s complete 32 piano sonatas from memory in public. Alongside an extensive recording and concert career, he has also composed vocal and piano works, taught at leading French institutions including the CNSM de Lyon and Schola Cantorum, and served as a juror and masterclass instructor worldwide.

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