RACHMANINOV · LUTOSLAWSKI · RAVEL : Music for Two Piano (Martha Argerich · Nelson Freire) (1982) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist & Credits :

MAURICE RAVEL : The Complete Works (2020) 21CD | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

CD1-5 Piano Woks and Transcriptions for Piano, Piano Four Hands, Transcriptions by Ravel.  
CD6-7 Chamber Music
CD8-11 Orchestral Works
CD12 Orchestrations by Ravel of Other Composers
CD13-15 Songs
CD15-17 Choral Works, Opera and Lyric Works
CD17-21 Bonus and Historic Recordings
All Tracks

RAVEL : Complete Orchestral Works (London Symphony Orchestra · Claudio Abbado) 3CD (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist 1
1. Bolero: Tempo di Bolero moderato assai
2-05. Rhapsodie espagnole
6-12. Ma Mére L'Oye
13. Pavane pour une infante defunte: Lento
Total 64.51
Tracklist 2
1-24. Daphnis Et Chloe
25-32. Valses Nobles et Sentimentales
Total 70.08
Tracklist 3
1-4. Le Tombeau de Couperin, Suite d'orchestra
5. Alborada del gracioso: Assez vif
6. Sheherazade, Ouverture de feerie: Modere
7. Menuet antique: Maestoso
8. Une barque sur l'océan: Trés souple de rythme
9. Fanfare from 'L'Eventail de Jeanne': Allegro moderato
10. La Valse: Mouvement de valse viennoise
Total 65.35

RAVEL : Orchestral Works; Piano Concertos; L'Enfant et les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade (Dutoit-Rogé) (2005) 4xCD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

For listeners who prefer their Ravel lushly textured, luminously colored, and luxuriantly impressionistic, this four-disc set of his orchestral music performed by Charles Dutoit and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal will be just the thing. Recorded between 1981 and 1995 in warmly opulent Decca sound and including all the canonical works plus the two piano concerts and the opera L'Enfant et les sortiléges, Dutoit's approach to Ravel is decidedly sensual, even tactile. One can feel the excitement in the closing "Dance générale" of Daphnis et Chloé, sense the energy in La Valse, smell the sea in Une barque sur l'océan, and touch the dancer's flushed skin in Boléro. This is not to say that details are lost in Dutoit's performances -- with the superlative playing of the Montreal orchestra, one can assuredly hear everything in the scores. Nor is this to say that Dutoit neglects the music's clear shapes and lucid forms -- with a decisive beat and a clean technique, Dutoit's interpretations are models of clarity. But it is assuredly to assert that, for sheer aural beauty, these recordings cannot be beat. With the very virtuosic and very French playing of Pascal Rogé in the two piano concertos plus very characterful singing in L'Enfant, this set will be mandatory listening for all those who love Ravel. by James Leonard 

All tracks & credits 

 

RAVEL : The Complete Solo Piano Music (Angela Hewitt) (2000) 2xCD / Mp3

 

BRANFORD MARSALIS - Romances for Saxophone (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Romances for Saxophone was released in 1986 by CBS Masterworks' Light Classics division. Branford Marsalis, usually known for his jazz background, asserts his mastery of the soprano saxophone on this excellent collection of romantic chamber music. Accompanied by the English Chamber Orchestra, Marsalis indulges us with some of his most fervent music yet. Each piece explores a different aspect of love and romance. Vocalese, originally for the soprano voice, portray the vocal lyricism and musicality of Marsalis' soprano saxophone. The "Rachmaninoff Vocalese" is an exceptional confirmation of the mastery of tone and musicianship that defines the music Marsalis is known for. Other well-known works, such as Debussy's L'Isle Joyeuse and Stravinsky's Pastorale, brilliantly contrast the air that Marsalis has played since 1981. The French and Russian compositions add a new dimension to the young Marsalis repertoire -- classical romantic. by Paula Edelstein
Tracklist:
1    L' isle joyeuse, for piano, L. 106    6:46
Claude Debussy
Orchestrated by Michel Colombier        
2    Pavane, for orchestra & chorus ad lib in F sharp minor, Op. 50 5:44  
Gabriel Fauré
Arabesques (2) for piano, L. 66  
3    Arabesque No.1, Orchestrated by Michel Colombier 4:15   
Claude Debussy
Vocalise, instrumental arrangement, Op. 34/14  
4    Vocalise, Edited by Michel Colombier 6:01  
Sergey Rachmaninov
5    Pastorale, song without words for voice & piano 2:43  
Igor Stravinsky
6    Emmanuel, for saxophone & orchestra 2:52      
7    Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, for voice & 8 cellos, A. 389 5:36      
Heitor Villa-Lobos
8    Gymnopedie for piano No. 3 2:31  
Erik Satie
9    Prélude, for piano 3:19      
Maurice Ravel
Edited by Michel Colombier    
10    Vocalise-Étude en forme de Habanera, for voice & piano 2:44
Maurice Ravel
11    Sicilienne, for cello & piano, Op. 78    3:36  
Gabriel Fauré
Edited by Michel Colombier     
12    Serenade for piano in A major 2:59  
Igor Stravinsky
Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano  
13    The Old Castle, Edited by Michel Colombier 4:25
Modest Mussorgsky
Directed By – Andrew Litton
Orchestra – The English Chamber Orchestra
Orchestrated By – Michel Colombier
Soprano Saxophone – Branford Marsalis

RAVEL : Complete Music for Piano Solo, Piano Concertos (Werner Haas-Alceo Galliera) 2CD (1993) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist 1:
Piano Concerto in G major
1 I. Allegramente 8:22
2 II. Adagio assai 8:45
3 III. Presto 4:01
Gaspard de la nuit, for piano
4 No. 1, Ondine 6:06
5 No. 2, Le gibet 5:29
6 No. 3, Scarbo 9:15
7 Menuet antique, for piano (or orchestra) 5:31
8 Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn, for piano 1:45
À la manière de. . . , for piano
9 A la maniere de Borodine 1:28
10 À la manière de Chabrier 2:28
Miroirs, for piano (or orchestra)
11 Noctuelles 4:06
12 Oiseaux tristes 4:07
13 Une barque sur l'océan 6:15
14 Alborada del gracioso 6:09
15 La vallée des cloches 5:08
Tracklist 2:
Piano Concerto in D major (for the left hand)
1 Lento 7:55
2 Più lento 4:57
3 Allegro 4:49
Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano
4 Prélude 2:53
5 Fugue 4:03
6 Forlane 5:59
7 Rigaudon 3:12
8 Menuet 4:50
9 Toccata 3:56
10 Prélude, for piano 1:33
11 Jeux d'eau, for piano 5:01
Sonatine for piano in F sharp minor
12 No. 1, Modere 4:02
13 No. 2, Mouvement de Menuet 2:58
14 No. 3, Anime 3:29
15 Valses (8) nobles et sentimentales, for piano (or orchestra) 13:25
16 Pavane pour une infante défunte, for piano (or orchestra) 6:05

MAURICE RAVEL : The Complete Solo Piano Music (2011) 2CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

It is tempting to overlook the other works on pianist Steven Osborne's album in order to bestow ecstatic praise on La valse, but that would be like skipping the various courses of a feast and heading straight for dessert. Osborne shows off his gift for and love of the great French composer's work in this complete set of pieces written for solo piano. In the enjoyable Miroirs, "Noctuelles" is blooming and rapid in Osborne's lovely interpretation, and "Alborado del gracioso" is stunning for its phrasing and perfect rhythm, even when Osborne restrikes the same key at a rapid-fire pace. Unfortunately, both CDs, especially the first, suffer from a weak recording quality that renders the softest passages inaudible. Sometimes, Osborne's slower or piano dynamic passages are ever so slightly static. The second CD is possibly more interesting than the first, as the compositions are more varied and Osborne's athletic playing and fiery passion are more evident here. In Le tombeau de Couperin it is a delight to hear each beautiful trill rolling off his fingers in "Forlane" (which has foreshadowings of La valse), the lively contrasts in the famous "Rigaudon," or the feeling and complexity of the "Toccata." Ravel's famed tone color is brought to life in "Jeux d'eau," and a grand, balletic sweep can be relished in the brief "À la manière de Borodin." When Osborne plays full out, it is truly magnificent. Valses nobles et sentimentales whet the listener's appetite for the main waltz to come. One can hear the antecedents to La valse, such as in "Modéré--Très franc," which moves with ease and a music box-like inner motion (without which the piece would fall apart); "Assez animé," which sends the listener into rapture; and the grand crescendo of "Moins vif" that is played with such vigor that Osborne must be using his whole body and soul. One wonders why La valse was not programmed after Valses nobles et sentimentales, to save the best for last. The piece threatens to send the listener into ecstasy. The menacing low notes and rubato in the beginning show Osborne's tremendous control of tension in the line. The rich music is very difficult to play, yet Osborne has a superb sense of musicality. He fleshes out Ravel's orchestration, and he knows how to create maximum drama through dynamics and pedaling. The crescendo-allargando is astounding, as is the ending accelerando, which is frenetic by degrees; the pianist's urgency is palpable. V. Vasan 

MAURICE RAVEL - The piano concertos, valses nobles et sentimentale

MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937)

 The Piano Concertos, valses nobles et sentimentale

Zimermann / Boulez

[1998] DG / FLAC (tracks), lossless