Search - Satie, Takahashi :: Piano Works

These two discs contain all the Satie piano music most people are likely to need, from the lyrical Gymnopédies to the hilariously satirical Embryons desseches ("desiccated embryos"). Yuji Takahashi has the right attitude for Satie. He plays the music straight, singing lyrical lines when called for, bringing out the sometimes-stinging humor when it's there, and otherwise staying out of the way of the music. "Interpretation" can kill these pieces, but they live very well in this set. The recordings, reissued as a "twofer," are early digital products but still sound quite good. If you can ignore the "classics for idiots" packaging and just enjoy the music, this is a very worthwhile set. --Leslie Gerber