Charles Munch made some wonderful recordings of non-French repertoire, including a thrilling Schubert Ninth and these fine Mendelssohn symphonies. Without ever going over the top (as in Berlioz), and aided by some wonderful playing from the Boston Symphony, Munch injects about as much excitement into the music as it can take. Listen to the thrilling climax he builds toward the end of the Scottish Symphony’s first movement, the dazzling articulation that characterizes the “Italian’s” whirlwind finale, and the unaffected strength he brings to the “Reformation’s” concluding chorale. These are classic accounts, no doubt about it, and they still sound absolutely wonderful. Claus Peter Flor’s lively accounts of six overtures aren’t quite on the same level, but make welcome fillers to a package that contains virtually all of Mendelssohn’s best orchestral music, and it would be petty to deny this release the highest possible recommendation. [Editor’s Note: This disc is part of a French twofer series called “Artistes/Répertoires” and can be purchased from most European mail-order sources.]
