Paul Paray

Oh my God! Wow!!! Are you ready to be terrorized by a March that literally makes you feel as if you ARE the person being marched to the scaffold or a Witch’s Sabbath that makes you feel as if Witches are right there harassing you? For the longest time I merely listened to the Symphonie Fantastique as a disinterested onlooker of the proceedings depicted in the music. I never felt an involvement with the music because of the performers involved—UNTIL NOW!!

Berlioz, the passionate, ardent, irrepressible genius of French Romanticism, left a rich and original oeuvre which exerted a profound influence on 19th century music. Berlioz developed a profound affinity toward music and literature as a child. Sent to Paris at 17 to study medicine, he was enchanted by Gluck's operas, firmly deciding to become a composer.

Known for one of the world's most popular operas, Carmen, Georges Bizet deserves attention as well for other works of remarkable melodic charm. Many of his works received cool receptions upon their premieres but are now considered central to the repertory of classical music.

This 53-CD set is more than the sum of its parts. While not all the performances and recordings are top-notch, the overall quality is very high and as a historical overview of a label known for its sonic as well as musical merits, it's full of treasures. The Mercury sound at its best is vivid and still sounds remarkable and many of these recordings - such as the marches, show tunes and orchestral showpieces conducted by Frederic Fennell - demonstrate this amply. But it's not all lollipops by any means.

This 53-CD set is more than the sum of its parts. While not all the performances and recordings are top-notch, the overall quality is very high and as a historical overview of a label known for its sonic as well as musical merits, it's full of treasures. The Mercury sound at its best is vivid and still sounds remarkable and many of these recordings - such as the marches, show tunes and orchestral showpieces conducted by Frederic Fennell - demonstrate this amply. But it's not all lollipops by any means.

Quelle mouche teutonne a donc piqué Emmanuel Chabrier ? En novembre 1880, à son retour d’un Tristan et Isolde à Munich, cet enragé du wagnérisme (comme ses amis Vincent d’Indy, Charles Lamoureux, Stéphane Mallarmé, etc.) démissionne de son emploi au Ministère de l’Intérieur et ne veut plus être que compositeur.

Albert Roussel (1869-1937) a vingt-cinq ans, en 1894, lorsqu’il renonce à une carrière toute tracée d’officier de marine (il a navigué jusqu’en Cochinchine et aux Indes) pour entamer de sérieuses études musicales : il s’installe à Paris, prend des leçons auprès d’Eugène Gigout, puis devient l’élève de Vincent d’Indy à la Schola Cantorum. La maîtrise du contrepoint qu’il y acquiert (puis enseigne) n’assèche en rien une inspiration aussi personnelle que colorée. Joyau de son oeuvre pour orchestre, la Suite en fa (1926) est emblématique d’une écriture vigoureuse : Paul Paray élance les lignes anguleuses du Prélude comme personne (et quels cuivres !), rend à la Gigue ses sonorités de kermesse, équilibre souplesse et ferveur dans la Sarabande.

RCO - Anthology of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vol 1, 1935-1950 (2002) {13CD Box Set Q Disc 97017, Limited Edition}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.25 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 2.04 Gb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 460 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1935-50, 2002 Radio Netherlands Music / Q Disc | 97017
Classical / Orchestral / Symphony / Romantic / Early 20th Century

Böhm was reported to have told the Wiener Philharmoniker towards the end of his life "I loved you as one can only love a woman". Listening to this boxset, capturing the Concertgebouworkest at the peak of its powers (between 1935 and June 1941), still at a commendable level (between July 1941 and 1944) before having to rebuild from the ashes of war (1945 to 1947) to finally come back to the highest level (1949-1950), the careful auditor has history in the making unfolding with its drama, its joys, but essentially its incommensurable beauty.