Clair de lune

Having spent more than half a century with the great Beaux Arts Trio, Menahem Pressler has enjoyed a balmy Indian summer as a solo pianist. This lovely collection of French piano miniatures recalls his win in the 1946 Debussy International Piano Competition. He hasn’t lost his touch, and though the pieces may often appear simple—they’re the kind of things budding pianists play—they’re rarely given with this kind of artistry, drawn of a lifetime at the keyboard. Five of the dreamier Préludes from Debussy’s Book 1 sit at the heart of the program and are a joy.