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Saskia Giorgini Plays Debussy With a Sparkling Joyfulness

Bill Dodd on July 19, 2024

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Welcome to ‘Dodd’s Discoveries’, a review series from NativeDSD Senior Music Reviewer Bill Dodd. This series focuses on Bill’s latest selections, with new reviews regularly. And the best part… the albums featured in the most current review will be available at a reduced price! Click the button below to see all of Dodd’s Discoveries and to find the current album(s) on sale.

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I’ve said it before… I love Debussy! I especially love his piano works. I’ve amassed a big collection of CD’s and files by numerous luminaries of the keyboard, and I wouldn’t want to be without any of them. But here’s a recent release that really stands apart.

Normally I divide Debussy interpreters into two groups: The “Just play it and let the notes speak for themselves” group, and the “Impressionists” group. I can’t think of any artists I’ve heard who don’t fall into or somewhere between these styles.

But then along comes Saskia Giorgini with this program of popular pieces. Saskia Giorgini has something to say, and she wears it on her sleeve. You’ll think I’m nuts, but I hear a sparkling joyfulness to much of these pieces. No, I’m not talking syrupy romanticism, I’m simply talking about an airiness – a feeling that she is playing with a smile and saying, “Here, listen to this one!”

I believe she is playing these pieces as Debussy might have wanted, but she is sharing the happiness she feels in doing so. The Pentatone engineers have captured this marvellous artist quite well.

Available now for 25% off!

Written by

Bill Dodd

Bill is Senior Music Reviewer at NativeDSD. He lives in the Portland, Oregon area. He is an avid photographer too! Along with his early interest in broadcasting and high fidelity audio, he was exposed to classical music in small doses from age 5, was given piano lessons from age 9— Starting with Bach and including Gershwin. Successful morning personality in San Francisco at age 22. (true). Sang in choirs in high school and college. Although the broadcasting experience was all in popular music, his personal listening has been mostly classical his whole life—along with others including Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Joni Mitchell, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.

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