Search - Waltraud Meier :: Debussy: La Mer - Chausson: Poème de l'amour et de la mer - Ravel: Une barque sur l'océan / W. Meier, Muti

I've found a new favorite!

Charles Emmett | Oroville, California (the boonies) | 01/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The more I listen to Mestro Muti I wonder how in the world that Philadelphia let this man get away. He is a master colorist, interpreter and seems to always have complete control over the orchestra. I don't mean this in a 'holding a club' way. It is the way that the shape and phrasing of each piece and how each nuance becomes part of the whole piece. Then the color of the strings or winds or brass. He really expects a lot from his players and they shine for him every time. I always wonder how hard it is for brass players to play as softly as he asks?The Chausson and Ravel are wonderful, but the centerpiece is Debussy's 'La Mer'. I thought that there would never be a topper to the old Ormandy recording but I must correct myself. This is such masterful conducting and playing. The first movement, so fluid and the cello entrance in the second part is mesmerizing. The second movement with the string play and the build to its crescendo and the power of the third with the dialogue of the wind and the waves. I not only felt it but I could picture it in my mind.I will say it again; how did this man get away and why is he not given enough critical acclaim? I used to read that whenever he and the Philadelphia Orchestra toured Europe that there was absolute pandemonium! An actual cult like following in Europe for him and the orchestra. As much as I have listened to Wolfgang Sawallisch, and I do like his recordings, especially Bruckner and Strauss, he doesn't hold a candle to Maestro Muti. His Tchaikovsky and Beethoven are sine qua non. his recordings of Schubert with the VPO are remarkable as well as his Mozart opera recordings. I have recordings of Prokifiev, Respighi and others and his recording of Mahler's Titan is also sine qua non! This is a must for any serious collector of, not only Debussy, but for any serious collection of classical music.Gobble the copies that are left up!"