Search - Arthur Honegger, Serge Baudo, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra :: Honegger: Symphonies

Probably The Best "Complete" Set, But .....

Jeffrey Lipscomb | Sacramento, CA United States | 06/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with the other two reviewers here that this fine set of Honegger's five symphonies and selected other works is a good bargain. I would take this set in a heartbeat over the lesser integral versions by Plasson (in muddy & reveberant sound on EMI) and Dutoit (an exercise in little more than beating time on Erato), both of which I weeded some time ago.



Serge Baudo (born 1927) was an excellent conductor who learned his trade at the Paris Conservatory under the great Louis Fourestier (1892-1976). Baudo's 1962 recording of Honegger's "Le Roi David" in its original orchestration (on a sadly deleted Accord CD - see my review) is utterly magical, even when compared with the composer's own (once on a Westminster 2-disc LP set).



I first owned these Baudo recordings on Crossroads LPs, which I replaced a few years ago with this Supraphon CD issue. The sound is a bit bright (treble reduction helps) and the playing by the Czech Phil. is earnest, if not especially polished. If you are looking for a single collection of these works, this Baudo set would still be my recommendation.



However, I have accumulated way too many different performances of these works over the years. So recently I got hold of the scores and did some extensive comparing. In the interest of shelf space (and sanity!), I decided to trim my Honegger recordings down to just my very favorite performances. Baudo is at his best in the 3rd & 5th symphonies, but there are even better versions elsewhere. So I am finally letting this set go to the used CD store. Here are the readings that emerged as my must-have favorites:



Symphony #1: The "live" Charles Munch/Orchestre National de France reading on Valois V4830 is the most stunning rendition I have ever heard. The sound, save for a bit of audience noise and an occasional shout from Munch to urge his players on, is about equal to Baudo's. The coupling is a hypnotic reading of Symphony #2 "Le Double" by Henri Dutilleux (a masterpiece well worth knowing).



Symphony #2: This wartime symphony is dedicated to Swiss conductor Paul Sacher, who sadly never recorded it. Munch left several recordings: my favorite by a wide margin is his "live" 1964 account on Valois V 4831. This is one of the absolutely essential Honegger CDs: the couplings are "Le Chant de Nigamon," the "Pastorale d'Ete," and my favorite account of the 5th Symphony. C'est extraordinaire!



Symphony #3: I regard the anti-war "Liturgique" as Honegger's finest symphony. Karajan, a conductor I generally dislike, made a fine recording (DG, coupled with a weak #2), and Ansermet's London LP (how I learned the piece) was even more remarkable. Honegger dedicated this work to Charles Munch, who left a "live" 1957 account that is superb (in rather poor sound on a Multisonic CD). My favorites here are Munch, Sacher, Mravinsky and the composer himself. Sacher's 1992 account is in excellent sound, and it's coupled with "Chant de Joie" and the rare & daring "Horace Victorieux" (on PAN 510053, an essential Honegger collection). Mravinsky's virtuoso reading (Melodiya) is wonderfully dramatic, while Honegger's own recording is a fascinating reference (on Music & Arts, with the composer's readings of the Prelude to La Tempete, Pastoral d'Ete, Pacific 231, Rugby, Les aventures du roi Pausole, and Le Chant de Nigamon).



Symphony #4: Honegger's amiable, almost humorous 4th was dedicated to Sacher and the Basle Symphony (alas, they made no recording). Munch's is, to my ears, the finest-ever account (Erato 45689, coupled with a stunning "Metaboles" by Dutilleux).



Symphony #5: Once again, Munch is the one to hear (coupled with #2 above). I also keep the excellent mono account by Markevitch on DG, which is coupled with a fine Roussel "Bacchus et Ariane" Suite and a superb "Les Choephores" by Milhaud.



Last, but not least, there is Hermann Scherchen's magnificent Pacific 231, Rugby, Mouvement Symphonique #3 (dedicated to Furtwangler), La Tempete prelude, Pastorale d'Ete, and Chant de Joie (on DG Westminster 471245). This essential set has a stupendous Stravinsky "Petrouchka" as well.



To summarize: this Baudo set of Honegger's symphonies is a fine effort and, for the sheer convenience of having all these works in a single 2-disc collection, it remains the best such offering. It was only after some careful comparisons that I decided to opt for the individual readings noted above.



Recommended (but see the text of my review).



Jeff Lipscomb"