Reference Recording: Ravel Orchestral Works from Martinon & Chicago
Jean Martinon led the Chicagoans for a brief five years before he was hounded out of town by a rabid musical press and a board seduced by the prospect of a more glamorous music director. But he left a remarkably choice recorded le...
Debussy, Ravel, Roussel: La Mer, La Valse, etc./Vonk SACD
Hans Vonk's view of La mer may be a bit lacking in sheer sensuality, but it's immaculately played and vibrant--and it's particularly nice to hear the outer movements taken swiftly, at tempos close to classic French interpretations...
Prokofiev & Rachmaninov: Piano works/Janis DVD
Admirers of Byron Janis do not need to be told of his febrile virtuosity and inborn affinity for Russian music. But they do need to know about these two rare and splendid concerto telecasts. The 1963 Prokofiev Third with Paul Para...
Ravel: Orch works SACD
In my original review of the stereo edition of these performances, I noted that good as the playing is, and despite Paavo Järvi's often intriguingly cool approach (reminiscent of Paul Paray), the competition in this repertoire is...
Ravel: Orchestral works/Järvi
These performances recall something of Paul Paray in their swiftness and bright-eyed clarity, though they miss Paray's immediacy and impact. The Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2 needs greater voluptuousness, with the initial sunrise ...
FRENCH BONBONS
This collection presents 14 excerpts from French opera and concert music by Herold, Thomas, Massenet, Offenbach, Chabrier, and others. Most of it is effervescent music that should bubble over and lift your spirits in anticipation ...
