In contrast to the fine quality of Pascal Rogé’s Decca recordings, his recent discographical efforts have been hit or miss, ranging from lackluster Mozart to dazzling Ravel and Gershwin. His second Debussy release for Onyx yields inconsistent results. The sheen of past Rogé Debussy interpretations seems to have tarnished, with pastel shadings giving way to neutral sonorities. In Estampes, such limited resources of nuance in La Soirée dans Grenade dry up the music’s harmonic perfume, while Jardins sous la pluie’s toccata-like patterns not only don’t take wing, but appear to grow heavier as the piece progresses; indeed, Rogé slows down in the very first measures.
The Suite bergamasque fares no better, and features a dry, clipped, and charmless Passepied that follows an overly languid, rhythmically limp Claire de lune. The Children’s Corner Suite convinces more, if you don’t mind the composer’s whimsical characters portrayed in a cut and dried manner.
Rogé plays the various short pieces best. He opens up his tone for a well-sustained Ballade, brings the First Arabesque’s melodic outlines to the fore, and struts La Petit Nègre’s cakewalking stuff. The close microphone perspective offers plenty of clarity, but insufficient atmosphere, tonal warmth, and dynamic contrast.
