One of the great post-war figures in French musical life, Landowski was not only a very fine composer, but an administrator non-pareil, restructuring musical institutions, reforming French opera and founding many musical groups, including the Orchestre de Paris. His music eschews the more outré developments of the Twentieth Century, instead relying on traditional forms, key centres and an individual lyricism spiced with recognisably modern flavours such as the use of magnetic tape, the Ondes martenot and various electro-acoustic instruments.
This selection of symphonies, concertos, opera, dramatic, choral and chamber works presents a superb guide to this brilliantly imaginative and immediately accessible composer's fascinating output. Currently somewhat neglected on CD, this collection brings together the complete Landowski recordings on the Erato label and features stellar performers including Barenboim, Jean Martinon, George Pretre, Maurice Andre, Rostropovich, Galina Vishnevskaya and Jeanne Loriod.
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
