La mer

"The latest volume in Harmonia Mundi's ongoing Debussy series, celebrating the centenary of the composer's death. The release features three orchestral works, two well known scores, Prélude à L'après-midi d'un faune and La Mer, bookending the less familiar Le martyre de Saint Sébastien symphonic fragments ... The highlight of the disc, for me, has to be Le Martyre de saint Sébastien symphonic fragments ... This is a comparative rarity ... There's life and urgency in Heras-Casado's highly evocative reading, aided by the lush orchestral textures he elicits from the orchestra ... All told, he displays a complete mastery of the score ... These top-notch performances constitute a worthy centenary tribute".

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"Recording of the month: Under Ticciati the DSO Berlin plays superbly, producing a euphoric atmosphere that feels intoxicating. At the peak of her powers Magdalena Kožená is as outstanding here as I can imagine. With her smoky toned mezzo-soprano sounding in outstanding condition her tuning, phrasing and projection are quite splendidly maintained throughout ... This quite outstanding album of Fauré and Debussy works certainly whets the appetite for future releases from Robin Ticciati with the DSO Berlin".

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"... this Ravel and Debussy programme from the LSO and Roth is recommended for those in search of a live SACD in this particular repertoire - although fine alternative versions of every piece on the disc are of course legion. The only complaint might be the playing time of less than 50 minutes, when the LSO and Roth have performed several other works of these two masters in recent years that might have been added".

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"Yet another La mer rich in detail (there have been quite a few of late) ... Prélude a l'après-midi d'un faune enjoys a degree of tonal bloom that suits its very personal narrative ... Heras-Casado makes you realise just what a great score this is, and - as with the other pieces on the disc - the Philharmonia are in fine fettle. Wonderful sound, too ... You certainly won't be disappointed by its excellent programme companions".

"Debussy deploys this effect with considerable variety throughout the work, but although superbly played, it sounds unnaturally highlighted within the rest of the percussion section".

"Overall this is slightly too mannered an account to be entirely convincing ... The most succesfull item turns out to be Jeux, a less diaphanous, more sensual and hotblooded beast than usual ... The LSO respond with 100 per cent commitment".

"It is music of great charm and well worth the excavation [Suite]".

"Many a disc of Debussy's La Mer has popped through the letterbox ... but this version is both unusual and stimulating ... The performance of the Première Suite by Les Siècles is luminous, rhythmically acute, atmospheric and full of character. So, too, is the interpretation of La Mer. The instruments ... lend the music a mellow glow, and Roth has full measure of the music's ebb and flow".

"This is an excellent performance [of La mer], tautly focused, as is Krivine's way, yet propulsive and flowing in its sense of the music's organic evolution and internal logic. There's real mystery at the start and genuine grandeur when we reach the first movement's noontide climax ... In both works the playing is at once pristine and virtuoso, while the sound, whether on disc or download, is almost blindingly clear. It's a fine achievement".

"Comparisons are inevitable [with Denève (Chandos)] and, from the point of view of atmosphere, texture and the spectrum of sonority, Denève achieves more subtlety, more of a sense of the music's innate ebb and flow, than does Daniele Gatti. One might automatically think that a French orchestra would have the upper hand in Debussy and these performances are by no means insignificant".

"Gatti draws muscular playing from the Orchestre National de France ... Gatti never forces the pace and 'La mer' is all the better for it. Regrettably, he doesn't do the same in the 'Prélude à l'aprèsmidi d'un faune', which is too rushed to be sensuous, especially in the opening ... Happily, Gatti's trio of Images is much finer, with vivid orchestral playing".

"What makes this disc unmissable is the equally fine playing (and lustrous recording) in Colin Matthewss imaginative orchestration of 12 of Debussys piano Préludes. Forget the piano originals, these are far more than orchestrations: the music is completely and creatively rethought in orchestral terms".

"Vurdering: Diapason d'or".

"The aqeous glints and flecks of colour in Debussy's La mer are attractively caught in this performance by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra".

"[Dean's approach] suits Ticciati's considered way with Debussy uncommonly well. Everything is beautifully balanced and clear. Shifts in colour and texture are carefully teased out, and the underlying sense of erotic regret is finely sustained ... The playing is exemplary ... though the orchestral and recorded sound are very bright ... Ticciati's Pelléas is darker in tone than many, and beautiful in its discreet sensuality".

"Denne live-indspilning er med London Symphony Orchestra, et moderne orkester, der er i topform til at opføre disse tågede, impressionistiske værker, og som François-Xavier Roth har en bemærkelsesværdig god kemi med ... Hans koncerter med ensemblet leverer altid et højt niveau - især i en verden af luksuriøs og mystisk fantasi beboet af Debussy og disse to værker ... Her er en chance for at genopdage disse geniale værker".

"This fine CD ends with Ravel's La valse. Jansons draws some splendidly dark playing at the start but also establishes the strong rhythmic underpinning of the music from the outset ... If the programme appeals, there's no reason to hesitate".

"This recording culmites in quite the most exciting account of Ravel's La valse that I have heard".