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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Charles Munch conducts Debussy, Ravel & Roussel
The life of Charles Munch mirrors the changing face of Europe during the half-century from 1890 to 1940. A brilliant concert violinist, he became one of the greatest French conductors of his era - first in Paris in the 1930s and 1940s and then, after the War, in the United States, where he was chief conductor of the Boston Symphony in succession to Serge Koussevitsky from 1949-1962. On his retirement from Boston, he returned to Europe where he founded the Orchestre de Paris. Munch’s repertoire was very wide, ranging from the established classical repertoire to world premieres of new music, but it was upon French music that his international reputation was founded. In this rare selection of music by his compatriots, we can hear for ourselves the truth of that claim. The three composers represented - Debussy, Ravel and Roussel - were contemporaries of each other and of Munch himself, which gives his interpretations a unique insight. The sound has been refurbished brilliantly. Live recording from 1954 | | | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. |
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“Anne Sofie von Otter is really exploiting the French repertory nowadays. After her Mélisande and Carmen, and Chaminade and Offenbach recitals, here she tackles Ravel's Shéhérazade with total success. From the first cry of 'Asie' in the opening song, von Otter beguiles using a hushed, yet expectant quality. Throughout her soft singing is exquisite. The balance between voice and orchestra has all the subtlety this extended prologue requires. At the sinister line, 'Je voudrais voir des assassins', she employs a harsh edge to the voice that's immediately echoed in the orchestral climax. As the poet describes the story-telling, Boulez brings the song to its end with a perfect diminuendo, leading into the mysterious 'Flute enchantée'. Here again von Otter's control of dynamics pays off with a gorgeous 'mysterieux baiser'.
The final song is also the most difficult. In its ambiguity, 'L'indifférent' mustn't be overstressed, and yet that ironic remark at the end, 'Ta démarche feminine et lasse' needs to be not so much regretful as a sigh of half-amused resignation.
Le Tombeau de Couperin, in its orchestral version, is an equally difficult challenge which Boulez and the Cleveland orchestra bring off with precision. With the other two orchestral arrangements of piano pieces, the Pavane and the Menuet Antique, again Boulez achieves such clarity that even these over-familiar works sound surprising and fresh.
The Debussy Danses, for harp and strings, serve as a sort of interlude, leading into the other three-song event, the Trois Ballades de FrançoisVillon. These are so often sung by a baritone; indeed, they were premiered by Jean Périer, the first Pelléas, so it's a slight jolt to hear them done by a soprano. Alison Hagley deals well enough with what Jane Bathori used to call the 'rough and quite choppy' vocal lines of the first song, 'Ballade de Villon à s'amye', but the fuller, darker tones of a baritone might be more appropriate in the central prayer. The account of the chattering wives of Paris brings the programme to a merry conclusion. The disc is a most enjoyable combination of orchestral music and song.
The sound throughout is exceptionally vivid, and Boulez, the orchestra and his soloists provide exemplary performances at almost every turn: heartily recommended.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. |
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| |  | Satie, Ravel, Honegger, Milhaud: Works for Orchestra
Concert Arts Orchestra, Vladimir Golschmann | |
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| |  | Milhaud: Le Boeuf sur le Toit and Introduction & Allegro
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| |  | Orchestrations by Zoltán Kocsis of works by Debussy and Ravel
Orchestration by: Zoltán Kocsis | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Bolero
| | | (also available to download from $11.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Boulez Conducts Debussy and Ravel
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| |  | The Art of Fritz Reiner Vol.1American Broadcast Performances 1942-1952
Bartók: | Two Romanian Dances, Op. 8a, Sz. 43, BB56 19th January, 1952 NBC Symphony Orchestra The Miraculous Mandarin, Op. 19, Sz. 73 (suite) 15th December, 1946 NBC Symphony Orchestra Hungarian Sketches, BB 103, Sz. 97 11th June, 1950 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Berlioz: | Le carnaval romain Overture, Op. 9 11th June, 1950 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Brahms: | Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 5th January, 1947 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Debussy: | Petite Suite arr. Busser, 19th January, 1952 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Falla: | Three dances from El Sombrero de Tres Picos 11th June, 1950 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Hindemith: | Symphony 'Mathis der Maler' 29th December, 1946 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Honegger: | Concertino for Piano & Orchestra 6th July, 1949 Oscar Levant (piano) Columbia Symphony Orchestra | Mozart: | Symphony No. 41 in C major, K551 'Jupiter' 15th December, 1946 NBC Symphony Orchestra Der Schauspieldirektor, K486: Overture 5th January, 1947 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Mussorgsky: | Boris Godunov - arias 23rd July, 1944 Alexander Kipnis (Boris) New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra | Prokofiev: | Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60 14th January, 1945 The Cleveland Orchestra | Puccini: | Un bel di vedremo (from Madama Butterfly) 11th June, 1950 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Ravel: | Le tombeau de Couperin - Orchestral version 19th January, 1952 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Rossini: | Semiramide Overture 10th March, 1942 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Shostakovich: | Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 14th January, 1945 The Cleveland Orchestra | Strauss, J, II: | Wiener Blut Waltz, Op. 354 5th January, 1947 NBC Symphony Orchestra Die Fledermaus Overture 11th June, 1950 NBC Symphony Orchestra | Strauss, R: | Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28 19th January, 1952 NBC Symphony Orchestra Don Quixote, Op. 35 10th March, 1942 Frank Miller (cello), Carleton Cooley (viola), Mischa Mischakoff (violin) NBC Symphony Orchestra | Villa-Lobos: | Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Aria (Cantilena) 11th June, 1950 Bidú Sayão (soprano), Frank Miller (solo cello) NBC Symphony Orchestra |
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| |  | Ravel – The Complete Edition
Debussy: | Trois Nocturnes arr. for two pianos by Ravel Anne Shasby & Richard McMahon (pianos) | Ravel: | Sérénade grotesque Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Menuet antique Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Pavane pour une infante défunte Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Jeux d'eau Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Sonatine Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Menuet sur le nom de Haydn Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Prélude Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) A la manière de Borodine Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) A la manière de Chabrier Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Le Tombeau de Couperin Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) La parade François-Joël Thiollier (piano) Valses nobles et sentimentales Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Miroirs, 5 pieces for piano Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Gaspard de la Nuit Ivo Pogorelich (piano) Ma Mère l'Oye Pascal & Denise-Françoise Rogé (piano) Frontispice for poème du Vardar Alfons & Aloys Kontarsky (pianos) Habanera Jacques Février (piano) Entre cloches Jacques Février (piano) Rapsodie Espagnole (for 2 pianos) Vladimir & Vovka Ashkenazy (pianos) La Valse (for 2 pianos) Vladimir & Vovka Ashkenazy (pianos) Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo), Myung Whun Chung (piano) Tripartos Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo), Myung Whun Chung (piano) Deux mélodies hébraïques Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo), Myung Whun Chung (piano) Chants Populaires Inva Mula (soprano), David Abramovitz (piano) Tzigane for Violin and Luthéal Piano (original version) Chantal Juillet (violin), Pascal Rogé (piano Luthéal) Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera Chantal Juillet (violin), Pascal Rogé (piano) Violin Sonata in A minor 'Sonate posthume' Chantal Juillet (violin), Pascal Rogé (piano) Berceuse sur le nom de Fauré Chantal Juillet (violin), Pascal Rogé (piano) Sonata for Violin & Cello Chantal Juillet (violin), Pascal Rogé (piano), Truls M¢rk (cello) Violin Sonata in G major Chantal Juillet (violin), Pascal Rogé (piano) String Quartet in F major Melos Quartet Introduction & Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet Osian Ellis (harp) Melos Ensemble Piano Trio in A minor Beaux Arts Trio Trois poemes de Stephane Mallarmé Felicity Palmer (soprano) The Nash Ensemble, Simon Rattle Trois chansons madécasses Felicity Palmer (soprano) The Nash Ensemble, Simon Rattle Histoires naturelles (5) Felicity Palmer (soprano), John Constable (piano) Cinq mélodies populaires grecques Felicity Palmer (soprano), John Constable (piano) Ronsard à son âme Laurent Naouri (baritone), David Abramovitz (piano) Un grand sommeil noir Laurent Naouri (baritone), David Abramovitz (piano) Chanson du rouet Claire Brua (mezzo), David Abramovitz (piano) Noël des jouets Claire Brua (mezzo), David Abramovitz (piano) Deux épigrammes de Clément Marot Gérard Souzay (baritone), Dalton Baldwin (piano) Sainte Gérard Souzay (baritone), Dalton Baldwin (piano) Don Quichotte à Dulcinée Gérard Souzay (baritone), Dalton Baldwin (piano) Manteau des fleurs Valérie Millot (soprano), David Abramovitz (piano) Si morne! Valérie Millot (soprano), David Abramovitz (piano) Rêves Claire Brua (mezzo), David Abramovitz (piano) Les grands vents venus d'outre-mer Gérard Souzay (baritone) Sur l'Herbe Gérard Souzay (baritone), Dalton Baldwin (piano) Ballade de la reine morte d'aimer Inva Mula (soprano), David Abramovitz (piano) Daphnis et Chloé Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Pavane pour une infante défunte Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit La Valse Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Piano Concerto in G major Martha Argerich (piano) London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Piano Concerto in D major (for the left hand) Michel Béroff (piano) London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Menuet antique London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Le tombeau de Couperin - Orchestral version London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Valses nobles et sentimentales London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Fanfare from 'L'Eventail de Jeanne' Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Boléro Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Alborada del gracioso (orchestral version) Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Ma Mère l'Oye Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Une barque sur l'océan (orchestral version) Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Rapsodie Espagnole Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit L'enfant et les sortilèges L'Orchestre de la R. T. F., Lorin Maazel L'heure Espagnole L'Orchestre de la R. T. F. Alyssa Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse Alcyone Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse Myrrha Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse Shéhérazade - Ouverture de féerie Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit Shéhérazade Régine Crespin (soprano) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet Deux mélodies hébraïques Susanne Danco (soprano) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet Trois poemes de Stephane Mallarmé Susanne Danco (soprano) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet Trois chansons madécasses Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner Tzigane Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton |
28th December 2012 marks the 75th Anniversary of the death of Maurice Ravel, the great French composer, best-known for his beautiful melodies, orchestral & instrumental textures and mesmeric compositional effects. Many consumers will know Ravel through his masterpieces, such as: Boléro, Pavane pour une infant défunte, Rapsodie espagnole, Gaspard de la nuit, Ma Mère l’oye, Daphnis et Chloë, Le Tombeau de Couperin and La Valse. For the first time ever, a 14-CD Box Set containing the COMPLETE EDITION of Ravel’s compositions. This is the flagship product, the first time ever that a complete Ravel Box has been issued by any classical label. In addition to detailed tracklists and artist information to Decca’s high house standard, the 184 page booklet offers full sung texts in original French and with English translation. A 3000-word appreciation of Ravel by Nigel Simeone appears in English, French and German. | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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