It’s no surprise that the Japanese pianist Noriko Ogawa features on BIS’s “Top 30” edition. She has been one of Robert von Bahr’s most fruitful signings, both for the quality of her playing and for the breadth of her repertoire. The first volume of her Debussy intégrale is by any standards distinguished pianism. Her Images challenges Gieseking’s classic 1953 recording, while Ogawa’s subtle colouring of the many piano dynamics of Pagodes (from Estampes) marks her out as a rather special Debussy pianist. A particular feature of these performances is her close observance of Debussy’s many expression marks; you’d be surprised how many pianists play fast and loose with Debussy’s explicit instructions. Excellent sound.

Reviewed by Sandy Matheson