Apprenti Salaud

This disc contains all of Dukas' orchestral music except for the early Polyeucte Overture. One of the most self-critical composers that ever lived, Dukas literally wrote one of everything–one symphonic poem, one symphony, one piano sonata, one variation set, one opera, one overture, and one ballet. Along with a few other small things, that's it. Naturally, everything that he let survive is of very high quality, but ironically only one work– The Sorcerer's Apprentice–has become popular, and that amazingly so, ever since Mickey Mouse played the part of the apprentice in Fantasia. If you enjoy that piece, you may want to give some of the other works a try, and here's the best way.

Depuis l’enfance, une question torture le narrateur :
- Qu’as-tu fait sous l’occupation ?
Mais il n’a jamais osé la poser à son père.
Parce qu’il est imprévisible, ce père. Violent, fantasque. Certains même, le disent fou. Longtemps, il a bercé son fils de ses exploits de Résistant, jusqu’au jour où le grand-père de l’enfant s’est emporté …

Dukas's three mature orchestral compositions are gathered on this attractive disc. The earliest is the little-known symphony, obviously inspired by Franck's three-movement symphony written a decade earlier. Like Franck, Dukas creates a large-scale sonata-form first movement; a lyrical slow movement that incorporates lighter, scherzo-like elements; and a rushing finale that contains a grandiose contrasting melody. La Peri, a late work, is subtitled "Dance Poem." It is glisteningly orchestrated–yet remarkably restrained–clearly delineated, colorful music. The Sorcerer's Apprentice (composed in between the other two) is deservedly popular, a colorful, splendidly lucid tone poem. Slatkin leads brisk, strongly played performances.