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Notes and Editorial Reviews
One of the world’s most celebrated pianists, renowned for the emotional intensity of her interpretations, Hélène Grimaud presents a beautiful, haunting call to nature – ‘WATER’ is an evocative, experimental, deeply personal project combining Hélène’s two greatest passions: music and nature.
On this release, Hélène performs all water-themed, romantic and contemporary classical pieces by composers such as Liszt, Debussy, Ravel and more, who all shared a fascination for Water.
In addition to these traditional evocations of rivers, lakes, seas, snowflakes, and raindrops, the album also reflects a contemporary perspective on water – and the lack thereof. These elements are
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woven into the album narrative through musical ‘Water – Transitions’ – ambient soundscapes composed, recorded and produced by Nitin Sawhney, a celebrated world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer.
Reaffirming her role as one of classical music’s most captivating performers, combined with her sense of commitment to the ecological and humanitarian challenges of our day, this project underscores Grimaud’s contention that “there are two significant measures of a society: how we support culture and how we treat our environment.”
The Deluxe digipack features a bonus track, in the style of a spoken track-by-track, where Helene herself has recorded “Reflections on Water”, mixed with excerpts of the music. The piece is approx. 10min in total.
This release is available for limited time only.
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REVIEW:
Grimaud interprets a multitude of styles with passionate authority. Her tellingly nuanced narrative flow in Albéniz's 'Almeria' bodes well for a complete Iberia down the road, should Grimaud be so inclined.
– Gramophone Read less
Works on This Recording
3.
Rain Tree Sketch II by Toru Takemitsu
Performer:
Hélène Grimaud (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1992; Japan
7.
Jeux d'eau by Maurice Ravel
Performer:
Hélène Grimaud (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1901; France
16.
Rain Tree Sketch II by Toru Takemitsu
Performer:
Hélène Grimaud (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1992; Japan
Notes: The piece is performed twice on this album. In this version, Hélène Grimaud is the speaker.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 3 Customer Reviews )
If you love waters, as I do December 19, 2017
By Denise S. (Groton, CT) See All My Reviews
"this is a beautiful cd for you. Soothing, comforting."
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IMAGINATIVE, INSPIRING March 17, 2016
By Peter T. (Bethesda, MD) See All My Reviews
"This imaginative program is a joy to listen to and to contemplate about. In about 1985 , referring to the Liszt's Les jeux ... d'Este, Bryce Morrison wrote the following : " Liszt's devout and impressionistic writing in what Busoni described as the model for all musical fountains is highly prophetic, looking far ahead to Ravel's own Jeux d'eau and Debussy's L'isle joyeuse. A mystical contemplation of a garden where fountains replace flowers , Les jeux... d'Este includes a quotation from the Gospel according to Saint John: " BUT WHOEVER DRINKETH OF THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL NEVER THIRST; BUT THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL BE IN HIM A WELL OF WATER SPRINGING UP INTO EVERLASTING LIFE ". HELENE, did you miss this one ? ( The above quotation was copied from the sleve to LONDON LP 411803-1 where Jorge Bolet plays this as well as other late List's piano compositions. You can get a more spiritual performance of this composition ( which haunts me throughout my life ) as well as other Liszt's piano pieces by Cl. Arrau for example on DECCA 001225941. I also suggest that you set yourself on a pilgrimage to that magical place of gardens of villa d'Este - as I did years ago .)"
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Beauty in sound and the minds' eye March 17, 2016
By Ronald W. (Gurnee, IL) See All My Reviews
"If you looking for something to carry you away to other worlds an arms length away, this is it. Don't expect chills of excitement up your spine - but dwell in the beauty of the recording and its' compositions. Sit, put your head back, and close your eyes - and dream."
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