Composer: Claude Achille Debussy, Maurice Ravel
Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française
Conductor: Jean Martinon
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Catalogue: 9677342
Release: 2009
Size: 605 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57
01. Part 1: Introduction (Lent)
02. Part 1: Danse religeuse (Modéré)
03. Part 1: Scène (Un peu plus lent – Mouvement du début – Vif)
04. Part 1: Danse générale (Vif)
05. Part 1: Scène (Beaucoup moins vif – Vif – Plus modéré)
06. Part 1: Danse grotesque de Dorcon (Très modéré – Pesant – Plus animé – Plus modéré)
07. Part 1: Danse légère et gracieuse de Daphnis (Assez lent – Plus animé)
08. Part 1: Scène (Un peu retenu – Animé – Vif – Lent – Libre)
09. Part 1: Nocturne (Lent – Très libre – Très modéré – Plus lent – Modérément animé – Très animé – Lent)
10. Part 1: Danse lente et mystérieuse des nymphes (Modéré – Lent et très souple de mesure)
11. Part 1: Interlude (Lent)
12. Part 2: Introduction (Lent)
13. Part 2: Danse guerrière (Animé et très rude)
14. Part 2: Danse suppliante de Chloé (Modéré – Animé – Lent)
15. Part 3: Introduction (Modéré)
16. Part 3: Lever du jour (Lent)
17. Part 3: Pantomime (Lent – Très lent – En animant – Lent)
18. Part 3: Danse générale (Bacchanale)
19. Ravel: Boléro, M. 81
CD 02
01. Ravel: La valse, M. 72
Ravel: Ma mère l’oye
02. Prélude
03. Danse du Rouet et scène
04. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant
05. Interlude (Lent)
06. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête
07. Interlude (Lent)
08. Petit poucet
09. Interlude (Lent)
10. Laideronnette, Impératrice des Pagodes
11. Interlude (Très modéré)
12. Le Jardin féerique
13. Debussy: Jeux, CD 133, L. 126
14. Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, CD 87, L. 86
The Ballet Edition is a series of 2 CD sets drawn from the catalogues of EMI Classics, presenting the best-loved and most popular ballets, performed by the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.
For what it is, it doesn’t get any better than this disc of ballets by Ravel and Debussy recorded for EMI in 1974 by Orchestre de Paris under Jean Martinon. Some listeners may object to the French performer’s approach, for these are not the clean-cut Debussy and razor-sharp Ravel favored in the late ’80s and early ’90s, but the lushly sonorous and lustily sensuous Ravel and Debussy of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Martinon, a skillful and seasoned conductor, elicits richly opulent playing from the Parisian orchestra. Here, one hears less the solos, fine and characterful as they are in Daphnis et Chloé’s pantomimes, than the blend, as in the kaleidoscopic colors of Boléro or the subtly shifting balances of Jeux. But one mostly hears the deep, plush sound of the French musicians having their way with music they love, and their performance of Daphnis’ Bacchanale is as thrilling as the climax of L’Après-midi d’un faune is ravishing. Recorded in full-spectrum stereo, this set should certainly be heard by anyone who enjoys the music.