– one of the few really unique pianists and probably the most important interpreters of French
piano music & a Mozart interpreter of high standing
– Complete recordings of the works for piano solo by Debussy and Ravel
– Essential Mozart recordings: piano concertos under Karajan, all important piano sonatas,
quintet KV 452
– Recordings from 1953 to 1955
– still regarded today as absolute reference recordings
Walter Gieseking is without a doubt one of the most important interpreters of French piano music. Few can compete with him, especially when it comes to Debussy and Ravel. Excellent pianistic skills, a musical culture of expression and a love of the Mediterranean landscape were important sources for Gieseking's specialty in this genre. The present recordings show a fascinating combination of the highest artistry of touch, nuance and sensitivity, and the pianist meets Debussy's criteria “Clarté, Elegance” as important and typical characteristics of French music in a congenial way. Gieseking's complete recordings of the works for piano solo by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel from 1953/54 are still considered absolute reference recordings today. His esteem as a Mozart interpreter is no less high. The piano concerto No. 23 recorded under Karajan is considered a great moment in recording history. For his interpretation of the Mozart sonatas he was given the rating of "ideal Mozart sound" and the recording of the quintet for piano and wind instruments with the Philharmonia Wind Quintet is considered by many to be the recording of a work, which Mozart himself called his favorite composition. The pianist, who was born in France and grew up and was educated in Germany, spent a lot of time with his father, a doctor and entomologist, on the French and Italian Riviera and got to know the landscape while hunting butterflies with him. He shares a deep admiration for nature with Debussy, about whom he wrote: “I believe that in Debussy's music the harmony with the forces of life and nature can be felt in the sense of understanding nature, in the sense of admiring its beauty - and these super-personal sensations, which Debussy created in the most perfect musical sound form, together with the splendor of sound, the richness of color and the peculiarity of his tonal language, make his music so beautiful that every musically sensitive person must be touched by it."