Notes and Editorial Reviews
This Debussy reissue is a must-have for any collection. The Prélude (recorded in 1976) is beautifully and affectingly done. While the un-credited flute soloist is excellent, best of all is Haitink's skill at layering textures during louder, faster moving sections. Sonics are fabulous, exemplified in the ideally balanced passages toward the close involving stopped horns, and notably where Chinese miniature cymbals are added as the main theme recurs (often recorded at too low a level). The 1979 account of Debussy's Nocturnes is one of the very best recordings of the work. Few versions of Fêtes build such a spectacular crescendo from the entry of the two muted trumpets, joined later by side drums, producing a thrilling wave of
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sound as the festival procession passes. But at the loudest point, note that the violins' unison restatement of the theme introduced earlier by the winds is still perfectly audible.
La Mer is majestic and brilliantly done. The solo cellos midway through "From dawn to mid-day at sea" don't need help from the mixer as the Concertgebouw acoustic captures their richness naturally, and every passing detail (particularly cor anglais, solo violin, and tuned percussion) in "Play of the waves" is breathtakingly clear. Haitink builds one of the most trenchant and powerful finales, but the central section (its tension held by the high violin harmonic sustained over a burgeoning theme in the winds) is memorable, as is the vehement closing section. [6/27/2001]
--Michael Jameson, ClassicsToday.com [reviewing Philips 464697]
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Works on This Recording
1.
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune by Claude Debussy
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1892-1894; France
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 11 Minutes 7 Secs.
Notes: Composition written: France (1892 - 1894).
2.
Images for Orchestra by Claude Debussy
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1905-1912; France
Date of Recording: 12/1977
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 34 Minutes 23 Secs.
3.
La mer by Claude Debussy
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1903-1905; France
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 22 Minutes 45 Secs.
4.
Nocturnes (3) for Orchestra by Claude Debussy
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1897-1899; France
Date of Recording: 05/1979
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 23 Minutes 33 Secs.
5.
Jeux by Claude Debussy
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1912-1913; France
Date of Recording: 05/1979
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 18 Minutes 46 Secs.
6.
Danse sacrée et danse profane by Claude Debussy
Performer:
Vera Badings (Harp)
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1904; France
Date of Recording: 12/1977
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 9 Minutes 8 Secs.
7.
Berceuse heroïque by Claude Debussy
Conductor:
Eduard Van Beinum
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1914; France
Date of Recording: 05/1957
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 3 Minutes 59 Secs.
8.
Marche écossaise sur un thème populaire by Claude Debussy
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1891; France
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 6 Minutes 43 Secs.
9.
Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra by Claude Debussy
Performer:
George Pieterson (Clarinet)
Conductor:
Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1911; France
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: The Netherlands
Length: 8 Minutes 19 Secs.
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