Search - Georges Bizet, Charles Münch, Charles Gerhardt :: Bizet: Symphony No. 1; L'Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2

Elegant and Bracing Bizet

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 09/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ever since its founding in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London has had a well-deserved reputation for its playing of French orchestral music. This disc, combining performances of Bizet's 'Symphony in C' under Charles Munch and the two 'L'Arlesienne Suites' under Charles Gerhardt, is ample evidence of that knack. Both these sets of performances are among the best available.



The Munch recording dates from 1963 and first appeared on a Reader's Digest disc. The sound has been refurbished and is, frankly, quite wonderful for its time. The first time through it I was not aware of its date of recording and was under the impression that it was from much later until I remembered that Munch died in 1968. I don't know how the engineers managed to make the sound seem so fresh, but it certainly does. As for the performance, the RPO strings and winds are the epitome of French lightness and grace. As for the 1855 Symphony itself, is there anyone who can hear it and not have their heart's burden lighten? It has always amazed me that Bizet wrote it when he was yet a student, and have felt it is one of classical music history's miracles that this little masterpiece was discovered after it had lain in a drawer until 1933 only to be played for the first time in 1935, eighty years after its creation. I never tire of hearing it. I'm particularly fond of Bizet's recreation of the sound of the musette, over a drone bass, in the Scherzo.



Possibly the incidental music to Alphonse Daudet's play, 'L'Arlesienne,' is Bizet's most played concert music. It has surely been played many thousands of times on classical music radio programs. Yet, it always engages one with its memorable melodies and catchy rhythms, not to speak of its intriguing use of canon and its infectious orchestration. Gerhardt and the RPO play it to a fare-thee-well in this recording from 1990. When the concluding Farandôle of the Second Suite finishes one is tempted to start the whole thing all over again. Bravo!



Highly recommended.



TT=60:36



Scott Morrison"