Search - Emmanuel Chabrier, Michel Plasson, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse :: Chabrier: España; Orchestral Works

Chabrier's sunny orchestral music, complete, and in vivid pe

Dace Gisclard | Houston, TX | 03/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All but a few of these pieces are available elsewhere, but this is the most easily available and inclusive compendium of Chabrier's independent orchestral works (and standard excerpts from his operas) to be had anywhere. One's appreciation of later 19th and early 20th century French composers is enriched by knowing Chabrier. In the "Suite Pastorale", one hears some of the inspiration for Poulenc's sauciness. In the piquant harmonies, irregular phrases, and hemiolas of "Trois valses romantiques," Ravel's "Valses nobles et sentimentales" are being born. Chabrier's rhythmic and harmonic originality were held in high regard by his contemporaries and the generation of composers following him, but his "feel good" music is eminently worth knowing for its own sake.



Of course, everyone will have their favorite earlier recordings, and of "Espana" in particular. Plasson's clocks in at an exhilarating but not hectic 6:20. Dervaux was perhaps too quick (5:55!), Dutoit, a little slower.



Plasson conducts the showier pieces with sassy insouciance, and the orchestra responds with dash, swagger and razor-sharp reflexes. In "Espana," he allows the trombones a clownish slide--nothing vulgar--just enough to be drolly tipsy. Yet unaffected lyricism, lush romanticism and beautiful orchestral tone are here as well. There is just enough sensual rubato in the Fete polonaise to be appropriately tongue-in-cheek, yet it's not over the top. In the true French manner, everything is done just as much as is necessary, but nothing is ever "in your face"--there's a BIG difference between pancakes and crepes! The recording is bright yet not raucous, transparent and detailed, and there is always a feeling of air and natural hall ambience surrounding the orchestra.



No one--not even Paray--offers a larger selection of this composer's orchestral works. Paray is consistently slower and adds a few more tempo inflections here and there. He also punches up the tempo toward the end of "Espana." These are merely observations--not complaints. Plasson more than holds his own against Paray. He may not be BETTER than anyone's old favorites, but--to paraphrase Aunt Eller in "Oklahoma"--"I'll be danged if he ain't just as good."



PARAGRAPH OF GEEKY COLLECTOR'S STATISTICS FOLLOWS--SKIP IF YOU'RE ALLERGIC--Oddly, EMI's original release is still available on AMAZON, both as singles or a twofer, at higher prices (Chabrier: Oeuvre D'orchestre). BRILLIANT offers brief notes, but no texts or translations for the vocal works. Purchasers may wish to try their luck with the EMI, but I don't know if that set has texts, either. In the "Gwendoline" aria, the medieval British heroine describes the attacks of Danish pirates. She mimics the "Eheyo" war-cry of these "red-bearded barbarians," but speculates that they might be tamed by a little feminine TLC. This is a concert version, with the choral part absorbed into the solo line, with soprano Barbara Hendricks in splendid voice."A la musique"--Chabrier's ravishing tribute to the goddess music--is an orchestration of the piano-accompanied vocal ensemble that appears as "Ode a la musique" in Graham Johnson's set of the songs for HYPERION. In the Plasson, the chorus is slightly under pitch at the top of some phrases, but not so much that it can't be overlooked. FYI, Johnson's set includes the composer's song version of "Espana"--fun, and worth seeking out. The chorus is omitted in the "Fete polonaise," but it's doubled in the orchestra, so nothing essential is missing.



BRILLIANT also doesn't mention the following: the mezzo-soprano and chorus in "A la musique" and "La Sulamite" are Suzanne Mentzer with the Choeurs de Toulouse Midi-Pyrenees; the horn soloist in the "Larghetto" is Pierre del Vescovo.



Plasson's set is a very convenient way to get "all the Chabrier orchestral music your family will ever need"--warmly recommended."

Everything orchestral by Chabrier

Roger G. Horn | clarion, PA | 01/31/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If one wants all of Chabrier's orchestral music on two CDs this is a very good cheap set. Some numbers may be better played elsewhere, but all are played here with elan, wit, and charm. The sound is more than good enough to do

and does not hinder enjoyment of this set of CDs except, perhaps, for the sound hound."