With this disc,
Vladimir Ashkenazy, celebrated for his readings of
Rachmaninoff and
Chopin, and his son,
Vovka, take on music by
Debussy and
Ravel for two pianos, and the results, utterly unlike virtually anything
Ashkenazy père has ever recorded before, make it a real winner. From the electric excitement of the opening En blanc et noir, through the hazy mysteries of Jeux, and the luminous colors of the Rapsodie espagnole, to the inexorable hysteria of La Valse,
Ashkenazy père and fils turn in performances that match the music for poise, drive, and technical brilliance. Some might find their sonorities a bit hard-edged at points -- should the opening of En blanc et noir and the close of La Valse really be hit so strongly? -- but the results are so consistently thrilling that most listeners are likely to be swept away. Recorded in close but clear and vivid digital sound, this disc may not be for every
Debussy and
Ravel fan, but it should certainly appeal to fans of
Ashkenazy.