Search - Claude Debussy, Paul Dukas, Arthur Honegger :: Bernstein Century: French Masterpieces

Vive la France

octavianus | 03/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Bernstein Century collection once again achieves immense success with this compilation of mostly lesser known French pieces of Dukas, Honegger, Debussy, Milhaud and Ravel.The album begins with the most famous piece of the collection, of its Fantasia fame - Paul Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Bernstein as always brings a freshness to the piece, giving it a lift above the inescapable vision of Mickey Mouse and dancing broomsticks. The Honegger works are simply fantastic, beginning with a rousing rendition of "Rugby," full of all the sounds and colors of the roaring crowd at a game. This is followed by the more emotional strains of "Pastoral d'Été" (Summer Pastoral), making its debut appearance on CD - again, a spirited and emotional performance from Bernstein and the NY Phil. Then comes Honegger's titan, "Pacific 231," to which Bernstein gives a five-star performance.The second half of the album moves toward the more 'famous' school of French composers - indeed, Milhaud, Debussy and Ravel all knew each other rather well. The pieces offered here, though, are a set that are probably unfamiliar to a good number of musicians, with the possible exception of La Creation du Monde - represented on this album with a fantastic, jazz-laced interpretation from the musicians of the Columbia Chamber Orchestra. The "Rhapsody" for alto saxophone offers more fun for the orchestra than the saxophone, with colorful solos in the woodwinds and the occasional flourish from the soloist. The piece soars through everything from a jazz feel to Hispanic rhythms, wonderfully composed and well performed by Sigurd Rascher.Shéhérazade is another of the lesser known jewels of Ravel, a take on the 'thousand stories' theme most notably done by Rimsky-Korsakov. Here is offered a quieter Shéhérazade, with a performance good, overall, though weak in a few spots, from French mezzo Jennie Tourel.Overall, this album has become one of the essential favorites of my collection, and it would likely become yours - these pieces are a bit avant-garde at times, and may step a bit too far for the more conservative listeners, but everyone else should have immense fun in the listening."

Awesome selection of music.

David Gottner | 05/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Probably the greatest sounding French masterpieces of the 20TH century are represented here. The Debussy rhapsody and the piece entitled "La Creation Du Monde" are very jazzy in flavor. (heck, "La Creation" sounds like a swing band.) The other cool pieces are the Dukas' Sourceror's Apprentice and the works by Honeggar.Personally, I wish they chose to include a different work in place of Ravel's "Schezerade". Bernstein has recorded much better orchestral works by Ravel.Bernstein's reading is top notch, like usual."