Alberic Magnard
Thu, Sep 23 2010, 8:14PM
Any Magnard fans out there? He's a composer I keep forgetting and when I come back to his music I realize how good it is.
Perhaps he's still awaiting the right recording champion. The Plasson cycle of his four symphonies was a decent introduction but tended to make him sound like Rameau Meets Wagner and the recording is so-so. Sanderling has a far, far better grasp of the structure of these works and a much better recording, but perhaps misses a little of the passion and energy. I haven't heard the Ossonce recordings and would love to get a reaction from somebody who can compare them to the Sanderlings.
Guercoeur is an intriguing work and makes for fine listening, although I'd love to see live performance or dvd. Certainly, for me, he's a lesser composer well worth seeking out.
Mon, Nov 8 2010, 9:41PM
#2
RE: Alberic Magnard
The old Fischer Dieskau Faust is excellent, though cut.
There's also a good dvd with Hampson playing Faust. Hampson generally isn't in good voice these days but he sounds fine here.
Sat, Nov 20 2010, 1:32AM
#3
RE: Alberic Magnard
Not too long ago,I borrowed a copy of the out of print EMI recording of Magnard's remarkable opera Guercoueur, which might be called the French Parsifal,with Michel Plasson and the Toulouse orchestra and the late Hildegard Behrens,and Jose Van Dam in the title role.
It's a strange allegorical story of Guercoueur, who was the ruler of a kingdom but was assassinated by enemies and is now in a kind of strange non-christian heaven ruled by La Verite(Behrens) .
He longs for his wife on earth and to redress the wrongs done to him even though he is supposed to be in a state of bliss, and begs La Verite to send him back to earth.His request is granted,but he fails miserably in his attempts,and is killed again. Back in heaven,La Verite forgives him and he accepts his lot.
Strange story, but the music is magnificent; majestic and slow-moving like Parsifal. If you can find a copy,grab it.
I listened to an LP today that I had forgotten about. It has Magnard´s Hymne a Venus, a strong piece with a gorgeous opening passage. I bought the LP originally though because it has one of my favourite orchestral miniatures Busoni´s Nocturne Symphonique. Speaking of Busoni and opera, Tagalie, or anyone else, do you have any thoughts on Doktor Faust? I bought Nagano´s recording a few years back expecting great things but I was left seriuously unmoved.