Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande Roger Desormiere
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CD - Remastered
- Release Date: 03/07/2006
- 3 Disc Set
- Sales Rank: 87,651
- Label: EMI CLASSICS
- UPC: 094634578226
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Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande
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Editorial Reviews
When this recording of Debussy's "Pelléas et Mélisande," the greatest and the most French of all French operas, was recorded in Paris in 1941, the Germans had already occupied the city, and the act of recording itself thus became a musical act of patriotism and the resulting performance is therefore of transcendent musical value. That value is honored in this superbly done reissue in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century. Because the singers were heirs to the opera's unbroken performance tradition thereby giving the listener the chance to hear the music in much the same way as the composer, the recording has long been recognized for its historical importance. In practice, this means an exceedingly passionate Pelléas in Jacques Jansen, an extremely ethereal Iréne Joachim, and an extraordinarily blustery Golaud in Henri Etcheverry, as well as incredibly evocative orchestral playing from the otherwise anonymous Orchestre Symphonique under Roger Désormière. While the 78 sound is old and faded, it is still clear and clean enough to let the music shine through and anyone who loves Debussy's Pelléas will have to hear this performance. Similarly, anyone who loves Debussy's "Mélodies" will have to hear the performances that fill out most of the rest of the third disc, enchanting performances from 1936 featuring soprano Maggie Teyte, Debussy's favorite Mélisande, with pianist Alfred Cortot accompanying. And anyone who loves Debussy, period, will have to hear the final three performances on the third disc, extraordinary performances from 1904 featuring soprano Mary Garden, the first Mélisande, with Claude Debussy himself accompanying. The Jansen/Joachim performances are wonderful. The Teyte/Cortot performances are magical. The Garden/Debussy performances are sublime. James Leonard, All Music Guide
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