Debussy: Images 2/ La Mer

On this CD:

1. Ibéria, for orchestra, L. 122/2
Composed by Claude Debussy

Conducted by Louis de Froment

2. La Mer (3), symphonic sketches for orchestra, L. 109
Composed by Claude Debussy

Conducted by Louis de Froment

Tracks:

De l'aube a midi sur la mer (From Dawn To Midday On The Sea): La Mer - BRT Philharmonic Orchestra (Brussels)
Andantino con moto: Arabesque No.1 - Klara Kormendi (Piano)
Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune - BRT Philharmonic Orchestra (Brussels)
Lisle joyeuse - Peter Bagy (Piano)
Sirenes: Nocturnes - BRT Philharmonic Orchestra (Brussels)
Poissons d'or (Goldfish): Images - Klara Kormendi (Piano)
Clair de lune (Moonlight) From Suite bergamasque - Slovak Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (Bratislava)
Allegretto scherzando: Arabesque No.2 - Klara Kormendi (Piano)
Andantino doucement ecpressif: String Quartet No.1 In G Minor, Op.10 - Kodaly Quartet
La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl With Flaxen Hair) From Preludes, Book 1 - Klara Kormendi (Piano)
Le matin d'un jour de fete (The Festal Morning): Iberia - BRT Philharmonic Orchestra (Brussels)

Average customer rating:

The only set you need
Outstanding performances at any price
More Evocative than some of Mahler's Symphonies
One stop shopping! Unparalleled Debussy, and excellent Ravel
In Debussy Martinon is unbeatble!

Debussy, Ravel: Orchestral Works
Claude Debussy , Jean Martinon , and Orchestre de Paris
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Strauss: Orchestral Works
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ASIN: B00006HM8X
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

I: De L'aube A Midi Sur La Mer - Jean Martinon
II: Jeux De Vagues - Jean Martinon
III: Dialogue Du Vent Et De La Mer - Jean Martinon
I: Nuages - Jean Martinon
II: Fetes - Jean Martinon
III: Sirenes - Choeurs De L'Ortf
Prelude A L'apres-midi D'un Faune - Alain Marion
Marche Ecossaise - Jean Martinon
Berceuse Heroique - Jean Martinon
I: Fanfare - Jean Martinon
II: Le Sommeil De Lear - Jean Martinon

Tracks:

Jeux (Poeme Danse) - Jean Martinon
1. Gigues/2. Iberia - Jean Martinon
I: Par Les Rues Et Par Les Chemins - Jean Martinon
II: Les Parfums De La Nuit - Jean Martinon
III: Le Matin D'un Jour De Fete - Jean Martinon
3. Rondes De Printemps - Jean Martinon
Premiere Partie - Jean Martinon
Deuxieme Partie - Fabienne Boury

Tracks:

1. Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum - Jules Goetgheluck
2. Jimbo's Lullaby - Jules Goetgheluck
3. Serenade For The Doll - Jules Goetgheluck
4. The Snow Is Dancing - Jules Goetgheluck
5. The Little Shepherd - Jules Goetgheluck
6. Golliwoggs Cakewalk - Jules Goetgheluck
I: En Bateau - Jean Martinon
II: Cortege - Jean Martinon
III: Menuet - Jean Martinon
IV: Ballet - Jean Martinon
I: Danse Sacree - Marie-Claire Jamet
II: Danse Profane - Marie-Claire Jamet
I: Le Magasin De Jouets - Jean Martinon
II: Le Champ De Bataille - Jean Martinon
III: La Bergerie A Vendre - Jean Martinon
IV: Apres Fortune Faite - Jean Martinon

Tracks:

I: Andante - Allegro - Aldo Ciccolini
II: Lento E Molto Espressivo - Aldo Ciccolini
III: Allegro Molto - Aldo Ciccolini
La Plus Que Lente - John Leach
Premiere Rapsodie Pour Orchestre Avec Clarinette Principale - Guy Dangain
Rapsodie Pour Orchestre Et Saxophone Solo - Jean-Marie Loneix
Khamma - Fabienne Boury
Danse: Tarantelle Styrienne - Jean Martinon

Tracks:

Bolero - Marcel Galiegue
Une Barque Sur L'Ocean (Miroirs: No.3) - Orchestre De Paris
Prelude - Orchestre De Paris
Premier Tableau: Danse Du Rouet Et Scene - Orchestre De Paris
Deuxieme Tableau: Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant - Orchestre De Paris
Interlude - Orchestre De Paris
Troisieme Tableau: Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete - Orchestre De Paris
Interlude - Orchestre De Paris
Quatrieme Tableau: Petit Poucet - Orchestre De Paris
Interlude - Orchestre De Paris
Cinquieme Tableau: Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes - Orchestre De Paris
Interlude - Orchestre De Paris
Sixieme Tableau: Le Jardin Feerique - Orchestre De Paris
Alborada Del Gracioso (Miroirs: No.4) - Andre Sennedat
I: Prelude A La Nuit - Orchestre De Paris
II: Malaguena - Orchestre De Paris
III: Habanera - Orchestre De Paris
IV: Feria - Orchestre De Paris

Tracks:

Sheherazade: Ouverture De Feerie - Orchestre De Paris
La Valse (Poeme Choregraphique) - Orchestre De Paris
I: Prelude - Orchestre De Paris
II: Forlane - Orchestre De Paris
III: Menuet - Orchestre De Paris
IV: Rigaudon - Orchestre De Paris
Menuet Antique - Orchestre De Paris
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte - Michel Garcin-Marrou
1. Modere - Orchestre De Paris
2. Assez Lent - Orchestre De Paris
3. Modere - Orchestre De Paris
4. Assez Anime - Orchestre De Paris
5. Presque Lent - Orchestre De Paris
6. Assez Vif - Orchestre De Paris
7. Moins Vif - Orchestre De Paris
8. Epilogue: Lent - Orchestre De Paris

Tracks:

Introduction - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danse Religieuse - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Scene - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danse Generale - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Scene - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danse Grotesque De Dorcon - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danse Legere Et Gracieuse De Daphnis - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Scene - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Nocturne - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danse Lente Et Mysterieuse Des Nymphes - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Interlude - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Introduction - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danses Guerrieres Et Diverses - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danse Suppliante De Chloe - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Introduction - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Lever Du Jour - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Pantomime - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera
Danse Generale - Bacchanale - Choeurs Du Theatre National De L'Opera

Tracks:

Lento - Aldo Ciccolini
Piu Lento - Aldo Ciccolini
Allegro - Aldo Ciccolini
I: Allegramente - Jean-Claude Malgoire
II: Adagio Assai - Jean-Claude Malgoire
III: Presto - Jean-Claude Malgoire
Lento, Quasi Cadenza - Moderato - Itzhak Perlman

Amazon.com

At long last, Jean Martinon's classic EMI Debussy and Ravel cycles from the 1970s have been gathered in a space-saving, budget-priced box set. If you love this repertoire, you'll gasp with joy at the conductor's crystal-clear orchestral balances, which truly reproduce what you see in the printed music. If you respond to a lean, sinewy approach to this repertoire in the manner of Toscanini and Boulez, but pine for the timbral characteristics that used to distinguish French orchestras (silver-coated strings, tart woodwinds, and slightly watery brass) in gorgeous, vibrant sonics, Martinon's your man. Aldo Ciccolini's crisp, diamond-edged finger work stands out in Ravel's two piano concertos and in Debussy's rarely heard Fantasie. The young Itzhak Perlman's dazzling, effortless traversal of Ravel's Tzigane will humble many an aspiring fiddler. And you won't find a more sparkling, translucent Ravel Mother Goose Suite on record. Martinon was a marvel, and a sadly underrated podium giant. Grab this set while you can. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

The only set you need.......2006-01-13

After owning dozens of Debussy, Ravel recordings, all I can say is ,
if you have this set, no need to look further.
My Ingelbrecht sets are good, but Martinon is better.
Forget the Munch and Monteaux, Bernsteins, Levine, Karajan (UUCCKKKK) etc etc.

Outstanding performances at any price.......2005-04-28

This boxed set provides a comprehensive collection of the orchestral works of both Debussy and Ravel. Jean Martinon conducts the Orchestre National de l'ORTF in the Debussy and the Orchestre de Paris in the Ravel pieces. The sound is stunning, and the performances are extraordinarily engaging. I have other sets of music by these composers (Simon and the Philharmonia Orchestra for the Debussy) Michal Tilson Thomas and the LSO as well as Boulez and the Berlin Philharmonic for some of the Ravel pieces (Boulez and the NY Phil for Daphnis and Chloe) but these other sets do not contain all the music in the 8 CDs by Martinon and his orchestras. I agree with the other reviewers who find the Debussy especially compelling. I am listening to La Mer now, and the recording captures the performance perfectly, clearly separating the horns, strings and woodwinds and providing a great balance. This is a very dramatic reading of La Mer! However, I find the Ravel performances equally inspired. The Daphnis and Chloe performance is tremendously exciting, and the ballet Ma Mere l'Oye is exquisite. When I decided to buy this set, I was looking for performances that would give me new insight into familiar works and also introduce me to some musical treats like Debussy's La Boite a Joujoux. I was not disappointed. This set is not just a bargain, it's a real treasure!

More Evocative than some of Mahler's Symphonies.......2005-01-25

I can't exactly visualise the oils of the French impressionists when hearing these pieces. But I do know what the other reviewer is talking about and the point is well made. They are so inspiring and evocative that they touch your heart strings perhaps deeper than most of Mahler's symphonies despite Mahler's gigantic orchetrations! The recorded sound is excellent: and the conductor is obviously gifted and the orchestra is just beautiful despite the fact that I am no big fan of either Ciccolini or Perlman. Believe it or not, in Hong Kong HK Records and HMV are selling the boxset at about 60% of the listed price in US: a real bargain. Grap it while it is still available, particularly those who live in HK.

One stop shopping! Unparalleled Debussy, and excellent Ravel.......2004-11-21

I've treasured both of these cycles since the 1970s when both appeared in single LP installements, each one eagerly awaited with deserved anticipation. To get them both in outstanding remasterings in a bargain priced box set is almost unthinkable. I'd pay twice the price, even more, if I had to for these recordings.

Other recordings of individual works may excel these, like Karajan's La Mer, or Monteux's Daphnis, Haitink's Nocturnes, and so on. But when listened to in such consistent interpretations as these from Jean Martinon, the works as a whole take on a different dimension. Each work is like a chapter in a novel, and they all weave together to make a very satisfying experience that is quite different than one gets with just the individual compositions.

That is especially true of the Debussy.

Two different Orchestras are represented. The Debussy are performed by the French National Orchestra, the Ravel by the more well known Orchestre De Paris, an orchestra that made recordings in those days with such notables as Kerbert von Karajan and Seiji Ozawa. The Debussy, though is actually better executed. The ensemble is tighter, the string tone more sumptuous.

The Debussy has no competition for completeness. No other conductor has traversed the entire orchestral output with the thoroughness that Martinon has. Boulez is probably the closest available. I think very highly of the Boulez recordings, especially the newer ones for DG. But the interpretations lack the unity and consistency that Martinon maintains throughout the cycle.

There is more competition with the Ravel, though. When issued, the cycle was met equally by an excellent set from the Minnesota Orchestra under Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, which came in a box at a lower price. Again, Martinon won my heart for his consistency. The Skrowaczewski was better executed by the Minnesota Orchestra than Martinon's Orchetre De Paris. The EMI sound was better, but back then the quality of the Angel LPs was terrible, so the Skrowaczewski go tthe nod for technical superiority unless you were fortunate enough to get your hands on more expensive import copies of the Martinon. There was a cycle from Ozawa on DG also, but artistically it could not match up with the other two. When CDs were introduced, along came Charles Dutoit and the Montreal SO on London/Decca. And they came with a huge splash and acclaim. I puked! and I have always puked when I hear Dutoit conduct anything, with maybe one or two exceptions. Dutoit makes Ravel sound too smooth and glossy. I do give the Decca engineers great credit for the sound (though the Daphnis gets my vote as the worst CD ever produced, being that it was 55 minutes long with no tracks or indexes!).

Now that EMI have so excellently remastered the Martinon recordings though,the choice for a complete set of the orchestral works is very clear. The experience of Martinon's unified consistent interpretations is not quite the same with Ravel as it is with Debussy, partly owing to a less well formed vision from that composer than Debussy. Debussy was more rigid in his world view and musical thought throughout his life, whereas Ravel wavered in many different directions.

When you consider the price, there no reason to think twice about this set. The accompanying booklet is not extremely comprehensive, but adequate enough.

In Debussy Martinon is unbeatble!.......2004-07-31

Jean Martinon is the last director really inmersed in the impresionist mood . His performances are deeply inspired and above all idiomatic . Marie Claire Jamet in the Sacred Dances is absolutely comitted with the elusive forms and pagan enchantment.
Martinon belonged to that hard to find status conductor who really know to engage with the composer mood . So when he played his music the results were overwhelming . He had a enormous gift to suggest . I still remind The Prokoviev seventh symphony with the Chicago Symphony and I can not get another first movement so well performed , for instance .
Back to Debussy he combines the charm and nuance with that incorporean and elusive approach that Debussy and Ravel demands . I state a parallel (if I may) between Martinon - Debussy and Beecham - Delius in what idiomatism concerns .
When Martinon performs Debussy the paintings of Matisse , Monet and Manet seem to awake and come to our mind .
The prientemps and the children 's corner are absolutely of first rate . The clarinet rhapsody is the best in the market .
In the images I prefer the Ansermet version , but the whole set is fundamental if you enjoy the orchestral music of Debussy.
Notice I have not mentioned Ravel works . I have another name in Ravel : Andre Cluytens . But this is out of context.

Average customer rating:

Debussy: Piano Works, Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Prelude
Sarabande
Toccata
Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum
Jimbo's Lullaby
Serenade For The Doll
The Snow Is Dancing
The Little Shepherd
Golliwogg's Cake-walk
Pagodes
La Soiree Dans Grenade
Jardins Sous La Pluie
La Plus Que Lente, Valse
I Andantino Con Moto
II Allegretto Scherzando
Piece Pour Le Vetement Du Blesse (Page D'album)
L'Isle Joyeuse

Tracks:

I Danseueses De Delphes
II Voiles
III Le Vent Dans La Plaine
IV Les Sons Et Les Parfums Tournent Dans L'air Du Soir
V Les Collines D'Anacapri
VI Des Pas Sur La Neige
VII Ce Qu'a Vu Le Vent D'Ouest
VIII La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin
IX La Serenade Interrompue
La Cathedrale Engloutie
XI La Danse De Puck
XII Minstrels
I Reflets Dans L'eau
II Hommage A Rameau
III Mouvement

Tracks:

I De L'aube A Midi Sur La Mer - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
II Jeux De Vagues - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
III Dialgue Du Vent Et De La Mer - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
I Gigues / II Iberia - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
A. Par Les Rues Et Par Les Chemins - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
B. Les Parfums De La Nuit - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
C. le Matin D'un Jour De Fete - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
III Rondes De Printemps - Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

Tracks:

Prelude A L'apres-midi D'un Faune - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Prelude - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Premiere Danse (Grave Et Lent) - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Deuxieme Danse (Leger Et Craintif) - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Troisieme Danse (Tres Lent) - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
I Tres Modere - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
II Modere - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Jeux, Pome Danse - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Essential Debussy

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Essential Vivaldi: 20 Greatest Masterpieces
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ASIN: B000069HME
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Tracks:

Clair De Lune From Suite Bergamasque - Boston Pops Orchestra
Nuages From Noelurnes - Boston Pops Orchestra
Fetes From Nocturnes - Boston Pops Orchestra
Iberia: Par Les Ruces Et Par Les Chemins From Images For Orchestra - Cleveland Orchestra
Iberia: Les Parfms De La Nuit From Images For Orchestra - Cleveland Orchestra
Iberia: Le Matin D'Un Jour De Fete From Images For Orchestra - Cleveland Orchestra
Children's Corner: Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum - Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal
Children's Corner: Jimbo's Lullaby - Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal
Children's Corner: Serenade For The Doll - Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal
Children's Corner: The Snow Is Dancing - Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal
Children's Corner: The Little Shepherd - Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal
Children's Corner: Golliwogg's Cake-Walk - Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal
La Mer: I. De I'Aube A Midi Aur La Mer - Berlin Philharmonic
La Mar: II. Jeux De Vagues - Berlin Philharmonic
La Mer: III. Dialogue Du Vent Et De La Mer - Berlin Philharmonic

Tracks:

Prelude To 'The Afternoon Of A Faun' - Berlin Philharmonic
En Bateau From Petite Suite - Orchestra Suisse Romande
Ballat From Petite Suite - Orchestra Suisse Romande
Arabeaques No. 1 (Andantino Con Moto) - Pascal Roge
La Plus Que Lente - Tamas Vasary
Des Pas Sur La Neige From Preludes - Book 1 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
The Girl With The Flaxen Hair From Preludes - BooK 1 - Alexis Weissenberg
The Sunken Cathedral From Preludes - Boox 1 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Minstrels From Preludes - Book 1 - Jean-Rodolphe Kars
La Puerta Del Vino From Preludes - Book 2 - Claudio Arrau
Faux D'Artifice From Preludes - Book 2 - Jorge Bolet
Toccata From Pour Le Piano - Zoltan Kocsis
L'Isle Joyeuse - Alexis Weissenberg
Reflets Dans L'Eau From Images - Book 1 - Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Jardins Sous La Pluie From Eatampes - Sviatoslav Richter
La Soiree Dans Grenade From Estampes - Sviatoslav Richter
Syrinx For Solo Flute - Boston Symphony Chambers Players

Average customer rating:

SELECTION COULD BE BETTER, BUT ANY EVB IS PRICELESS
Van Beinum Volume 2 -- Could Have Been Better

Philips Recordings 1954-1958, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

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Decca Recordings 1949-1955
Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings, 1957-1962
Arthur Grumiaux: Philips Recordings, 1955-1978

ASIN: B00067R3CA
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

SELECTION COULD BE BETTER, BUT ANY EVB IS PRICELESS .......2005-04-01

In this soul-sucking, stressed-out, maxed-out era in which we (who love great music) have the misfortune to live, the spirit of Eduard van Beinum stands out as a beacon through pea-soup fog. No Karajanian glitz or glossiness-for-its own-sake...Just substance and passion, encased within a "border" of wonderful discipline and refinement...

The EVB "Volume 1" (covering EVB's Deccas) had problems...Some Beethoven Overtures and the 1952 Haydn Variations and Tragic/Academic Overures were left out...The 1951 Brahms First transfer was harsh and high-end-brite...Of the Rosamund Incidental Music, only the Overture was included...The Schubert 4th, but not the 5th...The three Concertgebouw selections from A Midsummer Night's Dream, but not the more complete "suite" (including the Wedding March !) which EVB recorded with the London Philharmonic...The Bartok Concerto for Orchestra, but not Le Sacre- a recording praised by Stravinsky himself...SAD, since just a little extra care in the Brahms transfer, and the space of two additional discs, might have solved ALL of these problems. And what a botched opportunity: surely the execs at UNI knew that those of us inclined to buy such a mono-historical, limited-edition box, IN THE FIRST PLACE, would have paid a little extra for a first-rate, definitve collection.

The EVB "Volume 2" Philips set is better thought-out, with superb transfers, but there is one problem...In spite of the presence of the 1951 Brahms First in "Volume 1" (and it is a vastly superior, more passionate performance), in "Volume 2" we also get the 1958 stereo First- easily the least involving of EVB's Brahms recordings...Of course, it's pefectly recorded and stupendously played; but the peformance is just a tad too preoccupied with clarity of texture, it lacks the spaciousness, sense of abandon and daring which a Brahms First MUST HAVE, and never really catches fire. (A rarity with EVB.) This space could have been better taken up with EVB's other 1958 Brahms: the Tragic & Academic Overtures (even if we DO have the Haydn Variations & Alto Rhapsody from the same sessions) and especially the Violin Concerto with Grimaux. (The 1997 Dutch Masters set, containing EVB's Philips recordings of all 4 Brahms Symphonies, including the 1958 First, is still available through MHS.) Still, I'd say this was the only miscalculation, and that "Volume 2" is better and more wisely planned than "Volume 1."

The Mozart Posthorn Serenade and Bach Suites are scintillating. The Schubert symphonies (especially the Unfinished) are fantastic. And the Debussy is indispensable.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE (with Michael B. Richman) that the cardboard box format of "Volume 1" should have been maintained with "Volume 2" ; the new 6-CD plastic cases are MUCH more vulnerable to breakage. (If you need replacements, these can be purchased through BAGS UNLIMITED of Rochester, NY at www.bagsunlimited.com)

As it is now, with the Decca Legends and Philips 50th Anniversary collections either at a standstill or to be discontinued, the chances of any FURTHER Van Beinum re-issues appear miniscule at best- at least, from UNI. So, as a long-term investment, it'd be prudent to snap this up before it, too, evaporates into the multi-national corporate ether.

Van Beinum Volume 2 -- Could Have Been Better.......2005-03-26

After purchasing Volume 1 of Eduard van Beinum's box set in UNI's "Original Masters" series, I was very excited to finally get Volume 2. Compiling many of his greatest recordings for the Philips label from 1954-58, this box set will be a most welcome addition to the shelves of serious classical music fans. Unfortunately, this title is not without its problems. To date this series has prided itself on reissuing rare collector's items for the classical connoisseur, but frankly a lot of this material has been readily available for years. The 1957 performance of Schubert's 6th Symphony was recently included on van Beinum's volume in the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" series (see my review). The recordings of Handel's Water Music (see my review) and all of the Debussy works (comprising the whole of disc six here) are available through the Australian Eloquence line. Finally, the Brahms 1st and the Mozart K299 have appeared in the Philips "Dutch Masters" import series. (As an aside, did UNI choose to split up Van Beinum's brilliant Brahms Symphony Cycle just to tease us? Why not just release all of four them as a 2CD OM title, like they did with the Moura Lympany 1951-52 recordings?) As I have mentioned in previous OM reviews, why UNI has now chosen to issue these sets in clunky plastic jewel cases, instead of the normal slim paperboard box with paper sleeves for the discs, is beyond me. Not only does this set look stupid next to Volume 1, which was produced using the aforementioned box style, but literally three of the four sets I have ordered from various sellers (Schuricht, Nelsova and Beinum) have arrived with their cases severely damaged in shipment. And it's not like with a single CD where you can just run down to Staples and buy replacement cases -- these 6CD gatefolds are impossible to find online. Anyway all the griping aside, there is a lot of great music here as approximately four CDs worth of material was new to me. The Bach Orchestral Suites and the Schubert 3rd & Unfinished were particularly refreshing, but that's just what you should expect from one of the great conductors of the pre/early stereo age. It's just hard to be completely satisfied when with a little more effort on the part of the folks at UNI/Philips, this set in particular, and series in general, could be perfect.

Concertgebouw Orchestra (1940-1958): Eduard van Beinum, Conductor

Average customer rating:

Disappointed

Concertgebouw Orchestra (1940-1958): Eduard van Beinum, Conductor

Manufacturer: Andante
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00008V6VU
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

Debussy, Three Images for Orchestra (1905-1912): Gigues
Debussy, Three Images for Orchestra (1905-1912): Rondes de printemps
Debussy, Three Images for Orchestra (1905-1912): I Par les rues et par les chemins
Debussy, Three Images for Orchestra (1905-1912): II Le parfum de al nuit
Debussy, Three Images for Orchestra (1905-1912): III Le matin du jour de f
Debussy, Printemps: I Trmod
Debussy, Printemps: II Mod
Debussy, La Mer: I De l'aube idi sur la mer
Debussy, La Mer: II Jeux de vagues
Debussy, La Mer: III Dialogue du vent et de la mer

Tracks:

Franck, Symphonic Excerpts from PsychI Sommeil de Psych
Franck, Symphonic Excerpts from PsychII Psychnlevpar les Zirs
Franck, Symphonic Excerpts from PsychIII Les jardins d'Eros
Franck, Symphonic Excerpts from PsychIV Psycht Eros
Ravel, Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chlo
Andriessen, Miroir de Peine: I Agonie au jardin
Andriessen, Miroir de Peine: II Flagellation
Andriessen, Miroir de Peine: III Couronnement d'nes
Andriessen, Miroir de Peine: IV Portement de croix
Andriessen, Miroir de Peine: V Crucifixion
Escher, Musique pour l'esprit en deuil

Tracks:

Beethoven, Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61: I Allegro ma non troppo
Beethoven, Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61: II Larghetto
Beethoven, Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61: III Rondo
Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: I Allegro con brio
Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: II Largo
Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: III Rondo

Tracks:

Bach/Busoni, Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052: I Allegro
Bach/Busoni, Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052: II Adagio
Bach/Busoni, Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052: III Allegro
Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218: I Allegro
Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218: II Andante cantabile
Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218: III Rondeau
Schubert, Two pieces from Rosamunde, F von Zypern, D. 797: V Entr'acte from Act III
Schubert, Two pieces from Rosamunde, F von Zypern, D. 797: IX Musique de ballet II
Schoenberg, Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16: I Vorgef
Schoenberg, Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16: II Vergangenes
Schoenberg, Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16: III Farben
Schoenberg, Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16: IV Peripetie
Schoenberg, Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16: V Das obligate Rezitativ

Album Description

This four-CD set presents a definitive mid-century showcase for Amsterdam's renowned Concertgebouw Orchestra,

featuring beloved conductor Eduard van Beinum and a glittering array of legendary soloists. Principal conductor

of the Concertgebouw Orchestra from 1945 to 1959, Van Beinum was acclaimed as a musician's musician, an artist

of unassuming integrity who advanced the composer's vision above all. Recorded by Dutch Radio, the repertoire

shows off the full range of the Concertgebouw's fabled warmth and richness, from Debussy's "La Mer" and Ravel's

"Daphnis et Chloé" to Schubert, Schoenberg and great pieces by Dutch moderns Hendrik Andriessen and Rudolf

Escher. The set's world-class soloists include Yehudi Menuhin in Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4, Zino

Francescatti in Beethoven's Violin Concerto, Solomon in Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Dinu Lipatti in

Bach's D Minor Keyboard Concerto. The 136-page, three-language booklet features rarely seen photos of Van Beinum

and the soloists and composers, as well as an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tim Page, a detailed

producer's note and work-by-work annotation. Also included are detailed artist biographies from "The New Grove

Dictionary of Music and Musicians."

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-01-13

I wanted to like this, I really did. But I find these interpretations good overall but never relevatory, and the sound is rather bad, even for someone like me who is very tolerant of inferior sonics in historical recordings. The product description may speak of the "Concertgebouw's fabled warmth and richness," but I don't hear it come through here. There are better ways to hear van Beinum and this great orchestra, which believe me from personal experience, is truly one of the world's very best.

The Debussy is good (it's hard to go wrong with La Mer), but there are better interpretations in far better sound--Boulez, Bernstein, Karajan, Haitink (with the same orchestra). Francescatti does adequately in the Beethoven concerto, but it's far from a masterpiece interpretation. (If I'm going to put up with one recording's inferior sound in the Beethoven concerto it's going to be Menuhin/Furtwangler live 1948 on Music & Arts.) Menuhin is fine in Mozart's 4th concerto and Lupatti is perhaps the best soloist in the bunch in the Bach, and these are the two performances that bring me closest to recommending this set. But you can get both in better-sounding studio recordings--without van Beinnum it's true, but here you can barely hear the subtle finesses he imparts on his orchestra.

And subtle finesses is what he is all about. He's a conductor I greatly respect and feel hasn't gotten his due in much of the world, and that's why I ordered this set. But these recordings are generally in such bad shape that it's better to seek out van B's studio work--you'll be able to *hear* what he's doing better, instead of just being told here you're hearing it. The accompanying booklet and notes are excellent, and the packaging, as usual for Andante, is first-rate. Too bad the rest of the set isn't up to those high standards. It pains me not to be able recommend a commendable set of rare material from an underrated conductor on an indy label trying so hard to do an outstanding job, but I can't.

CELIBIDACHE / Münchner Philharmoniker - Debussy: La Mer / Images pour orchestre No. 2 "Ibéria"

Average customer rating:

!!!
Thank the heavens for clip offerings
Does Not Stand Up To Repeated Listenings
Beautiful.
re-birth of Debussy from a non-impressionist view

CELIBIDACHE / Münchner Philharmoniker - Debussy: La Mer / Images pour orchestre No. 2 "Ibéria"

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Applause
I. De L'aube A Midi Sur La Mer
II. Jeux De Vagues
III. Dialogue Du Vent Et De La Mer
Applause
Applause
I. Par Les Rues Et Par Les Chemins-
II. Les Parfums De La Nuit-
III. Le Matin D'un Jour De Fete
Applause

Amazon.com

Sergiu Celibidache's penchant for meticulous orchestral balances and spacious tempi threatens to embalm Iberia's swaggering rhythms. On the other hand, the late conductor's patient, sumptuous detailing makes for one of the most riveting (and longest) versions of La Mer on disc. Every Debussy lover should try to hear it. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

!!!.......2007-06-29

My favorite recording of this work had for a long time been that of De Sabata. He's just so ferocious and meticulous... but when I got this recording (after having heard again and again--I'm a fanatic--MANY other recordings) i just didn't know what to think. I didn't think Debussy wrote THIS kind of music. It's not just color and quick little turns of phrase, little flashes of brilliance, neat little harmonies, which I'm used to in typical Debussy... THIS is like the voice of nature, it's the majesty of the heavens, it's all the anger and agony of time, It's really hard to explain. This performance (and recording) are just shattering. I listen to it again and again, I can't get over it... You HAVE to get over the "speed" (or "slowness) of the music. Yes the tempi aren't fast. Yes the tempi are slow. SO WHAT. Picasso said something about computers that comes to mind, here: "What good are computers, all they can give you are answers." Oh yeah, the Iberia also is a real knockout.

Thank the heavens for clip offerings.......2006-03-10

I just listened to only one!! of the clip offerings, La Mer.
"Debussy A LA Celibadeche"
Typical Celibadeche slowww and careful "we do not want to miss a note" says Celi, ...but you missed THE MUSIC
Thank madern tech for clips, as back in the old vinyl days we could only rely on hype written on the back cover/sales clerks and Gramophone's hypeing.
Now I just saved myself $24.50 + ship.
Go read Jeff's review if you do not believe me.
Sorry Celi fans. Hey Todd/GMG keep your hype down.
0 stars.
Paul Best
Baton Rouge Louisiana
Comments/questions/all SNIDE insults can be sent to:
paulfbest@cox.net

Does Not Stand Up To Repeated Listenings.......2004-06-03

Well, I took Amazon critic Jed Distler at his word on this one. So I went out and bought a copy of this unconventional take on Debussy's music. Right off the bat, I found the "La Mer" quite captivating. However, regarding the "Iberia," I think Distler's assessment was too forgiving: "Sergiu Celibidache's penchant for meticulous orchestral balances and spacious tempi threatens to embalm Iberia's swaggering rhythms." Remove the "threatens to" from that sentence, and you have a more accurate diagnosis.

But once the sheer novelty of this very slow "La Mer" had worn off a bit, I tried hearing it again. The second time around I found myself growing restless, impatient .... and bored. When it was over, I turned to other Debussy CDs that have given me immense pleasure in the past. One by one - Martinon, Rosenthal, Inghelbrecht, etc. - my interest was immediately rekindled. So what is the difference?

The Celibidache is utterly lacking in evocative atmosphere. What he plays isn't Debussy's pathbreaking "La Mer" - it's really the conductor's listless "Dead Sea." All of the orchestral detail is presented in such plodding slow motion that, to mix metaphors a bit, the forest gets totally obscured by the trees. Where are the splash and swirl of Debussy's masterpiece? What seemed novel and different on first hearing, had simply become lumbering, spiritless and downright pretentious on second visit.

The other conductors cited above were specialists in this music; Celibidache was not. Martinon was a composition pupil of Roussel and was trained by Charles Munch. Rosenthal was Ravel's prize pupil: he also gave us the delightful Offenbach pastiche known as "Gaiete Parisienne." Inghelbrecht was Debussy's protege - he premiered the orchestral version of "Marche Ecossaise" for the composer. Martinon, Rosenthal and Inghelbrecht all perform "La Mer" with old-style French ensembles with long experience in Debussy's style.

Perhaps the most significant difference: those other conductors were all distinguished composer/conductors, whereas Celibidache was strictly a showman. I think a French composer's view is likely to be more sensitive to the shape, the contrasts, and the harmonic mobility of Debussy's music. Celibidache WAS capable of fine Debussy performance. That is proved beyond doubt by his late 1940's recording of "Jeux" (available on a Tahra CD) - it remains one of the finest recordings ever. But as he grew older, Celibidache became obssessed with slow tempi that became glacial (I find most of his Bruckner simply intolerable in this regard).

And when I say slow, I mean REALLY SLOW. Inghelbrecht, whose "La Mer" on Testament is my personal benchmark recording, does it in just under 25 minutes. Rosenthal's is just over 22 minutes, Martinon is 24:26, and other fine performances by Munch, Desormiere, Bour, De Sabata and Markevitch are all of similar duration. Celibidache's is simply off the wall at 32:23.

So, please consider yourself warned. Listening to this reading for the third (and last!) time, I was reminded of the infamous live performance of Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto by Glenn Gould, with Leonard Bernstein conducting the NY Philharmonic. Gould had stubbornly insisted on playing his part at a tediously slow tempo. Before the performance began, Bernstein turned to the audience and stated publicly that the interpretation to follow was NOT his idea.

I think if Debussy had been present at this Celibidache "La Mer" concert in Munich, he might have stood up and said "This is NOT my music."

Beautiful........2004-05-28

I cant think of a more intuitively guided conductor for this music than Celibidache. His graceful effortless style does wonders for this luminous music. An invaluable document.

re-birth of Debussy from a non-impressionist view.......1999-03-09

Sergiu Celibidache has a very unique character and and his approach to music is very different than the other post-modern conductors of our day. He believes that the main dynamics of the piece should be preserved, on the other hand other inner dynamics could be(should be) changed according to the time,the place etc. This is what he understands from interpretation or the freedom of interpretation. And in every field of life he believed that experience is the most important guide to all human beings. When you listen to this CD, you will experience how an impressionist piece has become so clear, vivid and natural from a different point of view. Of course, not distorting the composer's real aims.

Average customer rating:

Debussy For Dummies

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Average customer rating:

Claude Monet: Music of His Time

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000669V3
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Average customer rating:

Essential For Mengelberg Fans

The Live Radio Recordings (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Nm Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005228R
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Customer Reviews:

Essential For Mengelberg Fans.......2005-04-16

This 10-CD box set (plus a bonus 17 minute DVD) is a treasure trove of "live" performances 1938-1944 by one of the last century's greatest conductors. Unfortunately, it comes with a pretty stiff price tag of nearly $20 per CD. With excellent transfers of Mengelberg's studio recordings now available on budget labels like Naxos for around $7 each, that's a rather steep tariff. I happened to get lucky and found a copy at a discount outlet for around $60. But irregardless of price, this is a magnificent set for admirers of the Dutch conductor's unique style of music making. Many items here were never recorded by Mengelberg in the studio, and some of these are world premiere performances. I have owned most of these selections on earlier LP issues but, without exception, these transfers are the finest ever. Incidentally, two items here (the Mahler 5th Adagietto and Strauss's Death & Transfiguration) are definitely studio recordings.

Amazon has not included a listing of this set's contents. So here is a cursory digest, with recording dates and a few comments on the performances:

CD 1 has Weber's "Oberon" Overture (1940), Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with Cor de Groot (1942), Mahler's "Songs of A Wayfarer" with baritone Hermann Schey (1939), and the Adagietto from Mahler's 5th (1926). These are all classic readings: a brilliant Oberon, one of the finest-ever Emperors (de Groot also made an excellent studio recording with Otterloo on an Epic LP that deserves to be on CD), and an important Mahler conductor's only recorded accounts of the Wayfarer and the Adagietto. The latter is my all-time favorite reading (it is also available on some budget labels). I still prefer Fischer-Dieskau & Furtwangler in the Wayfarer Songs (EMI).

CD 2 has the Bach Cantata BMW 202 (1939: the CD jacket indicates this is a studio reading, but it sounds live to me), some Schubert choral items from Rosamunde, etc. (1940), and the Brahms 3rd Symphony (1944). The Bach is excellent, although its romantic styling is probably an acquired taste. The Schubert is lovely, but I still prefer Fritz Lehmann's rendering (DG - see my review). This great Brahms 3rd is similar to the 1932 studio recording, but the latter has more immediate recorded sound in Pearl's superb CD transfer (the Naxos issue is guilty of too much noise suppression).

CD 3 has three Mozart items from 1942 - the "Magic Flute" Overture, the 2nd Flute Concerto with Hubert Barwahser, and an aria K. 528 with soprano Ria Ginster - plus Bruch's 1st Violin Concerto with Guila Bustabo (1940 - greatest performance I've ever heard), Grace Moore singing "Un bel di vedremo" from Puccini's Madame Butterfly (1936 - Mengelberg's accompaniment is drenched in lovely portamento), and a Moore encore (Pestalozza's "Ciribiribin" with pianist Gibner King - a rather odd inclusion).

CD 4 has a largely uninteresting overture by Wagenaar (1940), Chopin's 2nd Piano Concerto with Theo van der Pas (no rival to the wonderful Askenase/Lehmann account on DG - see my review), and Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony (1939 in rather poor sound).

CD 5 features Bach's 1st Harpsichord Concerto with pianist Agi Jambor (1939, identified as a studio recording), Kodaly's "Hary Janos" Suite (1940), and the Brahms Violin Concerto with the orchestra's young concertmaster Herman Krebbers (1943). The Bach is a little heavy compared to my favorites: Sviatoslav Richter & Vaclav Talich (Artia LP) and Suzanna Ruzickova with Gyorgy Lehel (Crossroads LP). The Kodaly is simply brilliant: to my taste, only Fricsay (DG) comes close. The Brahms is beautifully conducted, but Krebbers is a rather neutral soloist.

CD 6 has a dramatic Beethoven "Egmont" Overture (1943) and two must-have 1939 world premieres: Bartok's 2nd Violin Concerto with Zoltan Szekely, and Kodaly's "Peacock Variations." The Bartok is sublime (I even weeded my Menuhin/Furtwangler after hearing this one). And the Kodaly is really stupendous - it's amazing how effectively Mengelberg grasped this music right out of the gate.

CD 7 is another real winner: a staggering Wagner "Tannhauser" Overture (1940), Walter Gieseking in Debussy's Fantasy for Piano & Orchestra (THE one to have!), the 2nd Suite from Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe" (extraordinary!), and delightfully spunky selections from "La Damnation de Faust" by Berlioz.

CD 8 has another goldmine: Grieg's 1st "Peer Gynt" Suite (1943), a profoundly beautiful reading of Bloch's Violin Concerto with Joseph Szigeti (1939), and one of the all-time great accounts of the Strauss "Death & Transfiguration" (1942 studio).

CD 9 has Beethoven's 9th (1938) in a performance of immense personality. It's quite similar to his live 1940 account (both have a gorgeous Adagio), but I think I prefer this one despite the rather noisy transcription discs. While not on the lofty plateau of Weingartner (Opus Kura) and various Furtwanglers, this 9th features some awesome playing, despite Mengelberg's utterly weird slow-down in the final measures.

CD 10 has Mengelberg's celebrated 1939 Mahler 4th in the best transfer I've heard. Some of the ritards in the first mvt. have to be heard to be believed, but otherwise this 4th is one of the greatest-ever accounts.

The bonus DVD was filmed in France in 1931, with a studio set disguised to look like the Concertgebouw. It has another Oberon Overture, the Adagietto from Bizet's "L'Arlesienne," and the Berlioz Hungarian March. Much of this can also be seen on the Teldec video "The Art of Conducting."

All in all, this set may be on the pricey side, but the performances it contains are truly priceless.

Highly recommended.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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