Search - Massenet, Wolff, Orchestra De La Societe :: Scenes Pittoresques / Scenes Alsaciennes

Great document of a long-lost orchestral sound

R. Scharba | Chicago, IL USA | 11/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hearing these old recordings, which for years were around as budget LP pressings of mediocre quality on the London Stereo Treasury label, are a great joy for me. There is no better example of the distinctive sound of French orchestral playing - a sound that is gone from the world forever. They were recorded in Paris in 1956 and 1957 by the Orchestra of the Paris Conservatory, where the techniques that created this style and sonority were taught for many years. The woodwinds and brass, in particular, are unlike anything you hear these days. Over the decades of the 20th century wind instruments had taken on a brighter, louder, and more piercing quality throughout the world, and playing techniques evolved to take advantage of them. But this is an interesting peek into an earlier time, like opening the door to a concert hall, taking your seat, and suddenly realizing that you've gone back in time 50, 80, maybe 100 years. The horns, in particular, have a muted quality, and are played with a marked vibrato. Years ago I used to hear ignorant people refer to this as a "wobble," a term which describes a flawed vocal technique in which a singer's vibrato becomes too wide, uneven, and uncontrolled. But this sound is intentional -- not a defect, but an aesthetic choice. Overall, the orchestral sound is a richer, darker one that I find very appealing. It's like the difference between Brie and Cheese Whiz.Albert Wolff was a great theater conductor who had long since mastered these scores, which he was now recording in stereo in the twilight of his career. This is an outstanding documentation of a long-lost musical style, the likes of which we will never hear again. For connoisseurs, no selling is required. For all others, give it a try. You may discover the connoisseur in you, too."