But that Tchaikovsky had warned me to listen with especial attention to what turns out to be a very satisfying reading indeed. Boyde's notes explain that he suspects a philosophical program underlying the work. Not surprisingly, with these insights underlying his interpretation, Boyde makes the most of its contrasts. Despite the obvious differences in language.
Ravel is also concerned with projecting mood, evoking associations.
And again Boyde's interpretation reaches beyond virtuosity to let the music speak through the contrasts realized in the clarity that his remarkable technique permits. I don't often find myself writing about such mainstram material, but when something of this quality comes along, I am glad to be reminded of what I am missing. It is only on hearing his account of Oiseaux Triste that I discovered how amazing this piece is. An artist that can convey that level of communication coupled with such consummate skill and breathtaking ability is destined to become famous and rightly so. The 'Unhatched Chicks' are light and airy, with beautifully shimmering trills, and the 'Great Gate' is taken convincingly at a smartish pace.