Search - Bizet, Cluytens, French Nat'l Radio Orchestra :: Symphony in C / L'Arlesienne Suites

Stylish Bizet From Cluytens

Jeffrey Lipscomb | Sacramento, CA United States | 07/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This marvelous performance of the Bizet symphony, as Michael Richman notes in his review here, is also available in the Cluytens volume of EMI's "Great Conductors of the 20th Century," but the sound of this Testment transfer is a bit clearer and less reverberant. This and the "L'Arlesienne" Suites are played with loving care by Cluyten's wonderfully plangent "old-style" French orchestra (be sure to listen for the virtuoso saxophone playing of Marcel Mule). The rarely heard "Patrie" Overture is a fine bonus. To my ears, this set and Beecham's lovely stereo readings of the symphony and the two suites on EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" are the preferred versions of these works. I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr. Richman for the very generous compliments he has paid to some of my reviews here at Amazon. It appears that we both enjoy much of the same music!"