For those unaware, on May 12th, 2023, the French pianist and Steinway artist Jean-Paul Gasparian will release an album dedicated to the music of Debussy, his debut on the naïve Classiques label.

The disc includes Debussy’s first book of Preludes, his three-movement suite Etampes, and a piano transcription of Rondes de printemps, one of the three Images pour orchestra.

This recording also includes the premiere recording of the Ronde de printemps for solo piano, which was transcribed by Gasparian’s father, pianist Gérard Gasparian and published by Dubussy’s own publisher Éditions Durand a decade ago.

Debussy: Préludes - Book 1
Debussy: Estampes (3)
Debussy: Images for orchestra: III. Rondes de Printemps

This elegantly-hued new recording opens on the lush organically notes brought forth within Debussy’s 12-stage Préludes - Book 1, and in particular, the elegant Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: No. 1, Danseuses de Delphes, the opulently-suave Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: No. 4, Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir, the playfully perky Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: No. 7, Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest, and the regal Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: No. 10, La Cathédrale engloutie.

Along next we get brought forth Debussy: Estampes, which opens on the dutifully languishing Estampes, L. 100: No. 1, Pagodes, before bringing us the cultured Estampes, L. 100: No. 2, La soirée dans Grenade (Estampes), and the furtively flourishing Estampes, L. 100: No. 3, Jardins sous la pluie, the album closing on the strident, eight minute Images for Orchestra, L. 122: No. 3, Rondes de printemps (Arr. by Gérard Gasparian).

In creating this album, Jean-Paul says, “I wanted something evocative and immaterial that would allow me to navigate my way through the range and moods, colors and timbres that make up the Dubussyan universe. It was often said of Dubussy that he caressed the piano when he played. The piano here is a tool that lets your imagination wander, a machine that creates perceptions. Like a sort of stationary journey.”