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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a fantastic collection of Debussy's orchestral works. Even years after they were recorded, they remain some of the best interpretations available on CD. Great performances, especially La Mer which is totally mesmerising. If you want to discover Debussy, start here, and also buy a set of some of his solo piano works.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
All of Debussy's generally acknowledged orchestral masterpieces are on these two CDS, along with a couple of short near-masterpieces. Penguin and Gramophone give the performances their highest possible accolades - rosette and gem - which raises my confidence in those two guidebooks. If anything deserves the highest honours it is these two CDs. These works demand subtle, refined and fluid playing, and that is what Haitink and the Concertgebouw deliver without compromise.
There are many demanding parts for soloists in these works, and the Concertgebouw soloists reveal themselves as some of the best in the business. The oboe is melancholy and disconsolate, the clarinets carousing and fluent, the trumpets raucous but musical. Haitink and the strings hold it all together with precision, delicacy, definition, and shimmering fluidity.
I find the four-star reviews overly critical, or at least too ready to drop a star. The shorter works are well worth listening to. Given that the CDs are crammed to the gunnels, they could have easily been left off. A star should be added for generosity!
The only criticism I can think of is the bland cover, a full-cover *actual* reproduction of Hokusai's "Hollow wave" might (just) do justice to the content - but that's nit picking. Never judge a CD by its cover...
There are many demanding parts for soloists in these works, and the Concertgebouw soloists reveal themselves as some of the best in the business. The oboe is melancholy and disconsolate, the clarinets carousing and fluent, the trumpets raucous but musical. Haitink and the strings hold it all together with precision, delicacy, definition, and shimmering fluidity.
I find the four-star reviews overly critical, or at least too ready to drop a star. The shorter works are well worth listening to. Given that the CDs are crammed to the gunnels, they could have easily been left off. A star should be added for generosity!
The only criticism I can think of is the bland cover, a full-cover *actual* reproduction of Hokusai's "Hollow wave" might (just) do justice to the content - but that's nit picking. Never judge a CD by its cover...
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This Twofer contains the groundbreaking and groundworking orchestral music of this most delicate of French composers. Huge forces, brilliantly handled. Prelude a l'Apres Midi d'un Faune is here, La Mer (of course), the colourful Images. An added attraction is Debussy's orchestral Nocturnes with the hauntingly beautiful Nuages as first movement. Other excellent bonuses are his melting Dances for Harp and Strings and his Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra. The only bugbear is his music for the short ballet Jeux which somehow never seemed and still never seems to provide inspiration.
As for the performances. Well, you can hardly ever go wrong with Haitink: he rarely inspires but he is a solid performer. The recordings date back to the late 1970s, so do not expect crystal clear reproduction, but overall the sound quality is more than good.
Recommended for those who want to try an aural accompaniment to gazing at their Monets and Pisarros. Debussy evinces the same exquisite craftsmanship with both a broad sweep and amazing detail.
As for the performances. Well, you can hardly ever go wrong with Haitink: he rarely inspires but he is a solid performer. The recordings date back to the late 1970s, so do not expect crystal clear reproduction, but overall the sound quality is more than good.
Recommended for those who want to try an aural accompaniment to gazing at their Monets and Pisarros. Debussy evinces the same exquisite craftsmanship with both a broad sweep and amazing detail.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Haitink Excels
BBC Music Magazine rightly rates this performance of La Mer as their top choice, and it is an excellent performance. In fact all the Haitink performances are great. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2009 by Mr. K. D. Barratt
Excellent Debussy
A trip to mythological places. I love it every time I hear it.
Published on 10 Nov 2005 by elena olivares
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