Hans Henkemans plays Debussy – The Philips Recordings 1951-1957

CD1
Préludes (Book I) L 125 (1909-10)
Préludes (Book II) L 131 (1911-12)

CD2
Douze Études (Book I) L 143 (1915)
Douze Études (Book II) L 143 (1915)
Images (Book I) L 105 (1901-1905) *
Images (Book II) L 120 (1907) *

CD3
Arabesques L 74 (1890-91)
Tarentelle styrienne (Danse) L 77a (1890-91) *
Ballade (Ballade slave) L 78 (1890-91) *
Mazurka L 75 (1890-91) *
Rêverie L 76 (1890-91) *
Valse romantique L 79 (1890-91) *
Suite bergamasque L 82 (1890, rev. 1905)
Pour le piano L 95a (1896-1901) *

CD4
La plus que lente, valse L 128 (1910)
Estampes L 108a (1903)
Children’s Corner L 119 (1906-1908) *
L’Isle joyeuse L 109 (1903-04)
Masques L 110 (1903-04)
Hommage à Haydn L 123 (1909) *
Berceuse héroïque L 140a (1914) *
D’un cahier d’esquisses L 112 (1904) *

*First-ever CD release (all other repertoire available for the first time internationally)

HANS HENKEMANS
Hans Henkemans made his debut at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in late December 1945, and for 25 years, he was acclaimed for his readings of Beethoven and Ravel, and especially for his performances of Mozart and Debussy. In 1951, he signed a contract with the newly-founded Philips label and between 1951 and 1957 his recordings would include the complete piano works of Claude Debussy. It is noteworthy that his orchestration of Debussy’s Préludes is perhaps the most accomplished that has been made to this day.

That his reputation has been largely confined to his birthplace of The Netherlands is a mystery. With this release, his ground-breaking interpretations of Debussy’s piano music are recognized for their forward-looking qualities, preceding the modern approach represented by Michelangeli and Béroff. Henkemans’ approach to the piano music of Debussy is marked by a supreme technical command, a wide variation of dynamics and touch, and by a strict fidelity to the score – and is notable for a superb control of the sustaining pedal with Henkemans eschewing its use simply for effect and frequently and completely clearing it allowing the music its natural expressivity through the notes themselves rather than through smudges of sound. For those who have not yet discovered Henkemans’ Debussy, these recordings “open closed doors, and in so doing, reveal hitherto unknown vistas. The result being the very enrichment of our faculty to enjoy music.”

• Marking the centenary of one of the 20th-Century’s most influential composers:
A 4-CD set presenting Hans Henkemans’ visionary Debussy recordings for Philips, which foreshadowed those of the generations of pianists which followed him; not least among them: Michelangeli, Béroff, and Zimerman
• First international CD release, and first digital release, of all repertoire – with CDs 2-4 released for the first time ever on CD
• 44-page booklet (French/English) including :
1. Artist biography
2. An insightful essay by Hans Henkemans himself on Debussy’s piano works,
3. New repertoire notes and critique by former Universal Exec., Tom Deacon

Decca 4cds 4829490