Composer: Jacques Ibert, Maurice Ravel
Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Paul Paray
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Mercury
Size: 297 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Escales (Ports of Call), suite for orchestra: 1. Rome – Palermo
02. Escales (Ports of Call), suite for orchestra: 2. Tunis – Nefta
03. Escales (Ports of Call), suite for orchestra: 3. Valencia
04. Rhapsodie espagnole, for orchestra (or 2 pianos): 1. Prélude à la nuit
05. Rhapsodie espagnole, for orchestra (or 2 pianos): 2. Malagueña
06. Rhapsodie espagnole, for orchestra (or 2 pianos): 3. Habanera
07. Rhapsodie espagnole, for orchestra (or 2 pianos): 4. Feria
08. Alborada del Gracioso, for orchestra
09. Pavane pour une infante défunte, for piano (or orchestra)
10. La valse, poème choréographique for orchestra
11. Le tombeau de Couperin, for orchestra: 1. Prélude
12. Le tombeau de Couperin, for orchestra: 2. Forlane
13. Le tombeau de Couperin, for orchestra: 3. Menuet
14. Le tombeau de Couperin, for orchestra: 4. Rigaudon
This is all about the Ravel
For me, there is no finer performance of Escales than Stokowski – everything about it – the sound, the stereo, the playing, everything – just works perfectly. There’s nothing wrong with Paray’s performance, it just doesn’t have, for me, the magic of the Stokowski and it certainly doesn’t sound as good.
But the gems here are all the Ravel pieces – they’re perhaps a bit faster than you’re used to, but it works and the sound is better on these than Escales. The Mercury Living Presence 35mm recordings are amazing in their clarity, even if they could use a bit more ambience of the hall (minor). Get this for the Ravel and you will be very happy, I assure you.