Piano Performer Magazine 
Comparing Notes: Clair De Lune
by Alex Davydovich (MGBH)
Votre âme est un paysage choisi
Que vont charmant masques et bergamasques
Jouant du luth et dansant et quasi
Tristes sous leurs déguisements fantasques.
Tout en chantant sur le mode mineur
L’amour vainqueur et la vie opportune,
Ils n’ont pas l’air de croire à leur bonheur
Et leur chanson se mêle au clair de lune.
Au calme clair de lune triste et beau,
Qui fait rêver les oiseaux dans les arbres
Et sangloter d’extase les jets d’eau,
Les grands jets d’eau sveltes parmi les marbres.
– Clair De Lune by Paul Verlaine (OBM)
Clair de Lune in D♭ major, the third movement of a larger work known as Suite Bergamasque by the famous pianist and composer of the Era of Impressionism Claude Debussy (OBM), has been captivating the senses of audiences for over a hundred years. Its name comes from Verlaine‘s (OBM) poem Clair de lune, “moonlight” in French. In this section, we present the seven pianists performing this piece, each through their own interpretation. Which one appeals to you the most? Please, share your comments and thoughts below.
- Performance by Seong-Jin Cho (MGBH), a winner of 2015 Chopin Competition:
2. Performance by Kathia Buniatishvili (MGBH):
3. Performance by an American pianist Umi Garrett (MGBH):
4. Performance by an American pianist Simone Dinnerstein (MGBH):
5. Performance by Svyatoslav Richter (OBM):
6. Performance by Vladimir Ashkenazy (MGBH):
7. Performance by a Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt (MGBH):
