French Impressions
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Paul Tortelier, Camille Saint-Saëns, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, Erik Satie, (Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné
Label: Classics
Magazine Review Date: 7/1988
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 54
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 759668-2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Petite suite, Movement: En bateau |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Pavane |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Gabriel Fauré, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Elégie |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Gabriel Fauré, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| Marche des petits soldats de plomb |
(Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné, Composer
(Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Thaïs, Movement: Méditation |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra José-Luis Garcia, Violin Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (La) Vierge, Movement: Le dernier sommeil de la Vierge (Last Sleep of the |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| (3) Gymnopédies, Movement: Lent et douloureux |
Erik Satie, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Erik Satie, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (3) Gymnopédies, Movement: Lent et grave |
Erik Satie, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Erik Satie, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (Le) Carnaval des animaux, 'Carnival of the Animals', Movement: The swan |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Michael Reeves, Piano Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| Alla Maud |
Paul Tortelier, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Maud Tortelier, Cello Paul Tortelier, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
Composer or Director: Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Paul Tortelier, Camille Saint-Saëns, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, Erik Satie, (Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné
Label: Classics
Magazine Review Date: 7/1988
Media Format: Vinyl
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 790707-1
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Petite suite, Movement: En bateau |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Pavane |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Gabriel Fauré, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Elégie |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Gabriel Fauré, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| Marche des petits soldats de plomb |
(Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné, Composer
(Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Thaïs, Movement: Méditation |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra José-Luis Garcia, Violin Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (La) Vierge, Movement: Le dernier sommeil de la Vierge (Last Sleep of the |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| (3) Gymnopédies, Movement: Lent et douloureux |
Erik Satie, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Erik Satie, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (3) Gymnopédies, Movement: Lent et grave |
Erik Satie, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Erik Satie, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (Le) Carnaval des animaux, 'Carnival of the Animals', Movement: The swan |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Michael Reeves, Piano Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| Alla Maud |
Paul Tortelier, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Maud Tortelier, Cello Paul Tortelier, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
Composer or Director: Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Paul Tortelier, Camille Saint-Saëns, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, Erik Satie, (Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné
Label: Classics
Magazine Review Date: 7/1988
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 759668-4
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Petite suite, Movement: En bateau |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Pavane |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Gabriel Fauré, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Elégie |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Gabriel Fauré, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| Marche des petits soldats de plomb |
(Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné, Composer
(Henri Constant) Gabriel Pierné, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| Thaïs, Movement: Méditation |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra José-Luis Garcia, Violin Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (La) Vierge, Movement: Le dernier sommeil de la Vierge (Last Sleep of the |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| (3) Gymnopédies, Movement: Lent et douloureux |
Erik Satie, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Erik Satie, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (3) Gymnopédies, Movement: Lent et grave |
Erik Satie, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Erik Satie, Composer Paul Tortelier, Conductor |
| (Le) Carnaval des animaux, 'Carnival of the Animals', Movement: The swan |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer English Chamber Orchestra Michael Reeves, Piano Paul Tortelier, Cello |
| Alla Maud |
Paul Tortelier, Composer
English Chamber Orchestra Maud Tortelier, Cello Paul Tortelier, Composer Paul Tortelier, Cello |
Author:
I think the title means French music of the Impressionist period, for that is indeed what it is and most beautifully given into the bargain, both performance and recording being of the very first dass.
Most substantial of the pieces is the DebussyL'apres-midi d'un faune prelude, the ECO and Tortelier between them creating totally ravishing sounds. (Susan Milan is rightly given credit for the principal flute part, though there will be an ungallant few who think her vibrato is on this occasion sometimes too wide.) Another Debussy contribution is his scoring of two of Satie's Gymnopedies, beautiful but close to identical: if the third Gymnopedie was actually different, it was a pity Debussy did not score that, too, in order to have something with which to separate the others. Further successes (as they almost always are) are the Faure Pavane and Pierne's March of the toy soldiers (''March of the little lead soldiers'', used in the booklet, seems a literal but unidiomatic translation!).
Tortelier not only conducts, but also in several pieces contributes solo cello-playing which adds further to the beauty of sound available. Perhaps ''Le cygne'' had to be there, obviously the best cello music (as such!) ever written (can any reader remind me of the name of the German cellist who travelling for many years with the Pavlova company, made a good living out of playing nothing whatever other than this one piece?). So too the Faure Elegie, in orchestral form obviating the difficulty, with piano accompaniment, of the solo cellist trying to look soulful for the whole middle section while playing simple bass notes to the piano's tune. And two rather more unexpected pieces: Massenet's Last Sleep of the Virgin (reminding us it was one of Beecham's favourite 'lollipops', without offering any evidence as to why); and a totally charming family contribution from Mr and Mrs Tortelier, playing a two-cello version, with the orchestra, of Tortelier's own Alla Maud waltz. What better finale for the record could conceivably have been chosen?'
Most substantial of the pieces is the Debussy
Tortelier not only conducts, but also in several pieces contributes solo cello-playing which adds further to the beauty of sound available. Perhaps ''Le cygne'' had to be there, obviously the best cello music (as such!) ever written (can any reader remind me of the name of the German cellist who travelling for many years with the Pavlova company, made a good living out of playing nothing whatever other than this one piece?). So too the Faure Elegie, in orchestral form obviating the difficulty, with piano accompaniment, of the solo cellist trying to look soulful for the whole middle section while playing simple bass notes to the piano's tune. And two rather more unexpected pieces: Massenet's Last Sleep of the Virgin (reminding us it was one of Beecham's favourite 'lollipops', without offering any evidence as to why); and a totally charming family contribution from Mr and Mrs Tortelier, playing a two-cello version, with the orchestra, of Tortelier's own Alla Maud waltz. What better finale for the record could conceivably have been chosen?'
French Impressions
French Impressions
French Impressions
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