Title: Ravel: Complete Works for Solo Piano Jean-Philippe Collard The playing of Jean-Philippe Collard has a lot to recommend it, particularly in the way it is so naturally expressive. On this EMI reissue of the solo piano works of Ravel, Collard's use of dynamics and pedal to color the mood and character of each piece never sounds forced or artificial, nor does he ever sacrifice momentum or expression. Among the ear-catching highlights are Miroirs, where Oiseaux tristes is as quietly beautiful as Alborada del gracioso is sparkling and the Valses nobles et sentimentales, where the expression is intense and intimate, just as Ravel calls for in the performance markings. The Rigaudon of Le tombeau de Couperin is slower than most performers play it, which makes it stand out, but otherwise, it is just as communicative as the rest of the works. Titles   cd 1 1. Serenade grotesque (1997 Digital Remaster) 2. Menuet antique (1997 Digital Remaster) 3. Pavane pour une infante defunte (1997 Digital Remaster) 4. Jeux d'eau (1997 Digital Remaster) 5. Modere 6. Mouvement de menuet 7. Anime 8. Noctuelles (Tres leger) 9. Oiseaux triste (Tres lent) 10. Une barque sur l'ocean (D'un rythme souple) 11. Alborada del gracioso (Assez vif) 12. La vallee des cloches (Tres lent) cd 2 1. 1. Ondine (Lent) 2. 2. Le Gibet (Tres lent) 3. 3. Scarbo (Modere - Vif) 4. Menuet sur le nom de Haydn (1997 Digital Remaster) 5. Modere - Tres franc 6. Assez lent (aves une expression intense) 7. Modere 8. Assez anime 9. Presque lent (dans un sentiment intime) 10. Vif 11. Moins vif 12. Epilogue - Lent 13. Prelude (1997 Digital Remaster) 14. A la maniere de Borodine (1997 Digital Remaster) 15. A la maniere de Chabrier (1997 Digital Remaster) 16. I: Prelude (Vif) 17. II: Fugue (Allegro moderato) 18. III: Forlane (Allegretto) 19. IV: Rigaudon (Assez vif) 20. V: Menuet (Allegro moderato) 21. VI: Toccata (Vif)