Boult: Schubert Symphony No. 8; Ravel: Dahpnis et Chloe Suite No. 2

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 8 in B minor ("Unfinished"), D. 759
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult

2. Petite Suite, five pieces for orchestra (orchestrated by Bizet after Jeux d'enfants Nos. 6, 3, 2, 11, 12)
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult

3. Daphnis et Chloé, ballet for orchestra
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult

4. Symphony No. 7, for orchestra in C major, Op. 105
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here is a buried treasure, pure and simple. Given Adrian Boult's towering authority in the key classics, it seems extraordinary that his only commercial recording of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony dates all the way back to the days of shellac. Ravel's great ballet score Daphnis et Chloe was another cornerstone of the Boult repertory that never appeared on vinyl, so let joy be doubly unconfined for this exemplary BBC Legends reissue. Boult's wonderfully wise, utterly unforced performance of the Schubert is an absolute joy, while the Second Suite from Daphnis is invested with an intriguingly stately, yet ultimately overwhelming symphonic strength. Bizet's Jeux d'enfants (yet another delectable, tenderly moving display) was also on the program of that July 1964 Prom with the Philharmonia, whereas the compellingly taut and rugged account of Sibelius's Seventh Symphony was taped by the BBC at a March 1963 Royal Festival Hall concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The remastering of all this stereo material is first-rate, as is Rob Cowan's personable and perceptive booklet-note. To sum up, then, this is a disc no connoisseur of great conducting can afford to be without. --Andrew Achenbach

Tracks:

Sym No.8 in b, D.759 'Unfinished': I. Allegro Moderato
Sym No.8 in b, D.759 'Unfinished': II. Andante Con Moto
Petite Ste 'Jeux D'Enfants': I. Marche. Allegretto Moderato: Trumpet And Drum
Petite Ste 'Jeux D'Enfants': II. Berceuse. Andantino: The Doll
Petite Ste 'Jeux D'Enfants': III. Impromptu. Allegro Vivo: The Top
Petite Ste 'Jeux D'Enfants': IV. Duo. Andantino: Little Husband, Little Wife
Petite Ste 'Jeux D'Enfants': V. Galop. Presto: The Ball
Daphnis Et Chloe: I. Lever Du Jour. Lent
Daphnis Et Chloe: II. Pantomime. Lent - Tres Lent - Vif - Tres Lent
Daphnis Et Chloe: III. Danse Generale. Lent - Anime
Sym No.7 in C, Op.105: Adagio - Vivacissimo - Adagio - Allegro Molto Moderato - Allegro Moderato... - RPO/Sir Adrian Boult

Amazon.com

Here is a buried treasure, pure and simple. Given Adrian Boult's towering authority in the key classics, it seems extraordinary that his only commercial recording of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony dates all the way back to the days of shellac. Ravel's great ballet score Daphnis et Chloe was another cornerstone of the Boult repertory that never appeared on vinyl, so let joy be doubly unconfined for this exemplary BBC Legends reissue. Boult's wonderfully wise, utterly unforced performance of the Schubert is an absolute joy, while the Second Suite from Daphnis is invested with an intriguingly stately, yet ultimately overwhelming symphonic strength. Bizet's Jeux d'enfants (yet another delectable, tenderly moving display) was also on the program of that July 1964 Prom with the Philharmonia, whereas the compellingly taut and rugged account of Sibelius's Seventh Symphony was taped by the BBC at a March 1963 Royal Festival Hall concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The remastering of all this stereo material is first-rate, as is Rob Cowan's personable and perceptive booklet-note. To sum up, then, this is a disc no connoisseur of great conducting can afford to be without. --Andrew Achenbach

Customer Reviews:

everyone a 'live' winner.......2001-01-09

All admirers of Boult wish there were more CDs of this kind of repertoire. He became typecast for British music - which he did supremely well, with the extra authority of a man who knew well Elgar, Holst, Vaughan Williams, Walton and others - but he was also the founder-conductor of the BBCSO, premiered Bartok, Schoenberg and 'Wozzeck' in Britain (and Copland in New York!) and was trained at Leipzig in the central European tradition. He was probably happiest of all conducting Brahms and Schubert. These are all live performances. Every one is captivating. 'Daphnis' was a Boult speciality (he conducted it for Ravel in London in the 20s) and I cannot imagine it done with greater beauty or atmosphere, or greater genuine excitement at the end. You also hear some thrilling detail which is not always evident in other performances. The thrilled reaction of the Proms audience is no surprise. The Schubert is fine (somewhat faint praise because I don't think it's the best Boult 'Unfinished ' I have heard, but it will still stand comparison with any) and the Bizet charming, especially in the beautifully phrased slow movements. Boult was a good Sibelian - there are two excellent CDs of tone poems and legends currently available - and this symphony suits him perfectly, because he laid great stress on architectural structure in symphonic music, which is one thing this extraordinary piece absolutely must have. Here it moves with great inevitability, but also, again, lovely phrasing in the beautifully characteristic wind and string figures which permeate the work. The three big brass calls arise from the orchestral sound like some huge, wise, awesome Nordic life-force. The Albert Hall recordings (Schubert, Bizet, Ravel) are good, the Festival Hall (Sibelius) excellent. These are great perfomances which can be revisited and revisited without any sense of diminishing returns. Don't hesitate!!

Music Track:

Music Track

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