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| |  | Debussy: Music for the Prix de Rome
Guylaine Girard (soprano), Sophie Marilley (mezzo), Bernard Richter (tenor), Alain Buet (baritone) & Marie-Josèphe Jude, Jean-François Heisser (pianos) Flemish Radio Choir & Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet (direction) Claude Debussy presented himself as a candidate for the Prix de Rome on three separate occasions during the 1880s, the most innovative decade in the history of that competition; a time when success entitled the victors (at the French government’s expense) to spend several years at the Villa Medici in Rome. Names of prize winners from this time include Debussy, Dukas, Leroux and Charpentier. Presented on this 2-CD set is a group of little known compositions by Debussy, dating from between 1882 and 1888: Le Gladiateur and the first versions of L’Enfant prodigue (of which only the 1906 reorchestration is occasionally performed) and Printemps – a highly individual piece (scored for choir and piano, four hands) later turned into a symphonic suite. A version for piano and voice of La Damoiselle élue and the choruses written for the competitions of 1882, 1883 and 1884 complete this survey of hitherto unknown works by Debussy. This release represents the first issue in a new collection from Glossa centred on music associated with the Prix de Rome. This is being prepared in collaboration with Hervé Niquet, who here is conducting two of Europe’s foremost ensembles. “Tracing Debussy's progress from the derivative chorus Salut Printemps of 1882 to the masterly and utterly individual cantata La Damoiselle élue of 1888 is a fascinating journey... Bernard Richter makes a beautiful sound and uses the words with great sensitivity.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2010 **** “Performances throughout are pristine and pure in exemplary sound.” Michael Quinn, Choir & Organ, July/August 2010 ***** “Finest of all in this sumptuously engineered, glowingly played programme is the deeply sensual La demoiselle élue” Julian Haylock, Classic FM Magazine, May 2010 “[L'Enfant Prodigue] receives a beautiful performance here. Bernard Richter...is a pleasingly lyrical Azael...Hervé Niquet handles the choral and orchestral forces with real sensitivity...Throughout the discs the singing of the Flemish Radio Choir is marvellously expressive and sensitive, with some really beautiful passages in very soft dynamics.” International Record Review, July/August 2010 | | | (also available to download from $20.75) | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Debussy: Orchestral Works
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Madeleine Gorge, Jacqueline Joly, Fernand Dufrène Chorale Marcel Briclot - Chœurs et Maîtrise de la Radiodiffusion Française, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Désiré-Emile Inghelbrecht | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Victoria de los Angeles
“Recorded in mono in 1955, the set fell at a unique point in the opera's history on disc.
Previous recordings from the 78rpm era had captured the special Opéra-Comique spirit for posterity, but they hold limited sonic appeal to present-day collectors; later recordings have upto- date sound, but their international casts generally can't claim the same sense of style. Only with this 1955 set do we get the best of both worlds.
Already at the time a practised exponent of Manon on stage, de los Angeles makes a vivid heroine, allowing us to see every expression passing across her face, almost as if we were watching a video. Maybe the role lies a little high for her, but de los Angeles surprised herself on the day of recording by hitting the high D in the Cours-la- Reine scene. Monteux's skill in his native French repertoire is second to none, and he brings exemplary sparkle to the music. 1It would be possible to find fault with various members of the supporting cast, but that's to miss the point. They sing with a grace and wit that nobody from outside the Opéra-Comique tradition can replicate easily. Henri Legay did not have a great tenor voice, but the poetry and the passion of Des Grieux come as second nature to him. Michel Dens's lively Lescaut and Jean Borthayre's serious Comte des Grieux are no less idiomatic; and the delectably perfumed Guillot of René Hérent is a collector's item in the best sense of the term, as he had been singing this role with the company since his début in 1918.
There's now a clear choice between this reissue and EMI's fine new Pappano set. Opera collectors will probably want both.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “no one has recorded the role of Manon...quite as bewitchingly as Victoria de los Angeles...The voice is at its most golden, and this vivid new transfer from Testament gives the mono sound extra warmth and immediacy...Monteux in one of his rare opera recordings is masterly in his timing and phrasing.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Charles Munch conducts a Treasury of French Music
Berlioz: | Le Corsaire Overture, Op. 21 Béatrice et Bénédict, Op. 27: Overture Harold en Italie, Op. 16 Joseph de Pasquale (viola) Les Nuits d'été, Op. 7 | Debussy: | La Demoiselle élue Victoria de los Angeles (soprano) Radcliffe Choral Society Jeux - Poème dansé La Mer Images for orchestra | Fauré: | Requiem, Op. 48 Adele Addison (soprano) & Donald Graham (bass-baritone) Radcliffe Choral Society & Harvard Glee Club | Franck, C: | Symphony in D minor | Indy: | Symphony on a French Mountain Song Op. 25 Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer (piano) | Milhaud: | Symphony No. 6, Op. 343 | Ravel: | Introduction & Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet Valses nobles et sentimentales La Valse Rapsodie Espagnole Piano Concerto in G major Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer (piano) | Roussel: | Suite in F major, Op. 33 |
| | | (also available to download from $32.25) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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Building a Library