IVORY  CLASSICS

Pianist Eric Himy's name is hardly a household word among music lovers, but if he plays other composers as well as he plays Ravel, it deserves to be. His disc includes Miroirs, Gaspard de la Nuit, his own super‑effective version of  La Valse, based on Ravel's own piano version, and several shorter pieces (72009). His playing is distinguished by extreme technical fluency, clean voicings even in the most efferverscent moment, exciting rhythmic crimping, and in La Valse and Gaspard (especially the final movement Scarbo) a truly grand sweep. Himy takes no passage for granted; without exaggeration or preciousness, he does something with each phrase that brilliantly sets up the next one. Another disc completing the Ravel traversal would be a boon to collectors. As it is, despite the probability of a complete set in your collection, this disc is worth owning as an eye-opening supplement. 

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c2003 by Paul Turok. All rights reserved.

 Turok's Choice   Issue No. 140    January, 2003

Prior to founding TC in 1990, Paul Turok wrote monthly classical recording review columns for Music Journal and Ovation Magazine. He was also a regular contributer of classical record articles to the New York Times Sunday Edition, Section 2 (Arts and Leisure), and is a frequent guest critic on the nationally syndicated radio show, First Hearing .