Search - Debussy, Martinon, Orchestre National de l'ORTF :: Orchestral Works 2

A wonderful trip through lesser known Debussy

Keith Peters | 07/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some of Jean Martinon's final recordings included the (almost) complete orchestral works of Ravel and Debussy. Volume 2 of the Debussy output with Martinon's French National Radio Orchestra includes lesser known works of the composer and all of them are wonderfully performed. Of particular interest are the Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra with soloist Aldo Ciccolini and the strangely wonderful Khamma. Recommended strongly."

I truly love this recording

Keith Peters | 08/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This EMI compilation was put together from the almost complete works of Debussy recorded by Martinon in the mid 1970s just before his untimely death in 1976(missing are the orchestral excerpts from Le Martyre de Saint Sebastian). For some reason, these lesser known works attract me more than some of Debussy's major orchestral works. I keep coming back to listen to these two discs again and again. The Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra(an early work of Debussy's) and the ballet Khamma(written approximately at the same time as Jeux)haunt one's memory over and over again. The other works are great to hear as well. The Premiere Rapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra, Danse(orchestrated by Ravel)and others are performed with an orchestra that sounds distinctly French, not like the homogenized sounding orchestras from around the world today. Martinon was a master of the genre. Get this compilation before EMI deletes it."