Editorial Reviews

For those listeners for whom the idea of listening to Debussy's "La Mer" three times in a row seems like an appealing proposition, this magnificent set of Debussy's orchestral music recorded in the first half of the last century will be just the thing. For those listeners, the opportunity to hear first Pietro Coppola with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire recording from Paris in October 1932, then Arturo Toscanini with the NBC Symphony from New York in June 1950, and then Roger Desormiere with the Czech Philharmonic from Prague in October 1950 will be irresistible. And completely worth it: each recording is distinctly different and utterly thrilling. Coppola's Paris Orchestre plays with a tone that no longer exists in this world, a honeyed and piquant tone of immense character, poise, and strength. Toscanini's NBC Symphony plays with a terror that no longer exists in this world, a strident and serrated terror of enormous polish, precision, and fear. Desormiere's Czech Philharmonic plays with a sonority that no longer exists in this world, a sweet and sultry sonority that wraps itself around Debussy's French masterpiece like lovers around Zola's Nana. And this is just one disc of this wonderful four-disc set. Also included are Walther Straram with flutist Marcel Moyse for the "Prelude à l'apres-midi d'un faune," John Barbirolli with clarinetist Benny Goodman for the "Premiere Rhapsody," Fritz Reiner with the Pittsburgh for "Iberia," and 13 more classic Debussy recordings. For listeners for whom the idea of listening to the greatest music ever written by a Frenchman by the best and most apposite conductors sounds like an appealing proposition, look no further. Andante's sound is as good as humanly possible under the circumstances. James Leonard, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

• Listener Rating: