Sails flap idly on calm seas, cool breezes dance across plains, snow lies thick on the ground – we are in the poetic landscape of Debussy's delicate Préludes for piano, orchestrated with a vibrant paintbox by Slovak composer, conductor and arranger Peter Breiner. Stylish Jun Märkl and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra exploit all the changing hues of this colourful showpiece from the wistful glimpse of the Girl with the Flaxen Hair and the mystery of the Submerged Cathedral, to the blustering portrait of eccentric General Lavine and the affectionate tribute to Samuel Pickwick, complete with bold, brass national anthem.
Debussy: 24 Préludes – review
Stephen Pritchard
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/ Märkl
(Naxos)
(Naxos)
Contributor
Stephen Pritchard
Stephen Pritchard has written on classical music for most of his 45 years in journalism. He was the Observer's first readers' editor, and prior to that was a managing editor and production editor
Stephen Pritchard
The GuardianTramp
