The Qobuz Ideal Discography

This is an absolute MUST LISTEN. One of André Previn’s greatest recordings captured in the 1960s in London – truly a golden era for the American conductor! Here, the London Symphony Orchestra, galvanised and operating in the very heart of its repertoire, is at its most beautiful: the brass section is electric (listen to the Scherzo!), the woodwinds are poetic and the strings unrelenting in their rhythmicity... What sets this recording apart from any other are the very fast tempos, always kept within bounds by André Previn, that help unveil Walton’s great architectural sense in the most unique way – check out the magnificent coda of the initial Allegro assai; throughout this interpretation, Sibelius and Hindemith influences progressively fade away in favour of a truly distinctive orchestration and management of musical time that make this score what it really is: a real oddity in the British musical landscape of the 1930s. André Previn’s performance on the 26th and 27th of August 1966 – he went on to create a new version with the RPO for Telarc − is all the more striking when we consider that around the same time, with the same musicians, he was working on the complete symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams which lack in poetry, most probably suffering from the type of analytical frankness that actually exalts Walton’s Symphony No.1. A few years later, he also recorded Walton’s Symphony No.2 for EMI, again with the LSO. This can be enjoyed with wonderful sound recording by the Decca team, conducted here by James Lock. © Pierre-Yves Lascar

This well-known monographic album devoted to Aaron Copland is also a joyful symbol of the long friendship that united a young, nineteen-year-old Bernstein with one of the greatest American composers. The two men, separated by an age difference of eighteen years, met on campus at Harvard during a modern dance show. While Copland was already a well-respected composer, Leonard Bernstein remained a complete unknown, full of talents and projects. The elder helped the young musician by recommending him to the Curtis Institute, and then the Tanglewood Music Festival. Grateful, Bernstein played Copland’s music his whole life out of affection as well as genuine passion. Released in 1962, this LP features three ballets. Appalachian Spring, composed in 1944 for Martha Graham, tells the story of American pioneers by citing numerous folk songs of that time, including Shaker Dance that acts as a link between the eight movements of the piece. El Salón Mexico, originally a purely orchestral piece, is the idealised representation of a Mexican folk-song salon, even if the influence of Stravinsky is clear. Based on scores bought in situ by the composer, several styles of music shine through, from the most popular to the most academic. Music for the Theater, composed in 1925, is a string of small pieces inspired by jazz music that caused quite a scandal in conservative concert halls in the 1920s! © François Hudry/Qobuz

' This set... put into the hands of those who have not yet unlocked the paradise of Mozartean opera, is worth... what ? A year at a foreign university ? I don't believe I exaggerate.' (Gramophone)

Unquestionably a jewel in the crown of the discography: incandescent and inspired conducting from start to finish (under the baton of Zubin Mehta, not the only example), and great voices of the time, sumptuous and committed — Leontyne Price, Fiorenza Cossotto, Sherrill Milnes and Placido Domingo. A fascinating and burning work is answered by an interpretation of flesh, fire and ashes to be counted in the leading pack of Trovatori in the catalog. (Qobuz/GG) 

In unison with Zubin Mehta's inspired direction, where dramatic intensity and tenderness contrast, the cast is excellent, especially the three leading roles : Leontyne Price for her vocal quality and commitment to the limits, Domingo at the top of his voice, true and nuanced, and magnificent baritone Sherrill Milnes. A very lively and vibrant performance of the highest standard, probably the best in the entire discography. (Qobuz)

This is a real marvel! Listen to this album, a darling of discophiles, a work that reminds us that Déodat de Séverac (1872-1921) was one of the forgotten masters of 'French' music at the beginning of the 20th century, rather like Gabriel Dupont (1878-1914), who also died too soon. Françoise Thinat, founder of the Orléans International Piano Competition and professor at the École normale de musique de Paris, gives this music a generous, sensual treatment, that recalls Gabriel Fauré and Isaac Albéniz. She uses unusually broad phrasing in Les muletiers devant le Christ de Llivia, the fourth piece in Cerdaña's collection, and in Coin de cimetière, au printemps from the suite En Languedoc where the precision of the recordings, the ample and expressive gestures, the supremely elegant rendition of the material, leave a lasting impression. This must surely be the best way to discover Déodat de Séverac, ranking far ahead of Aldo Ciccolini, Jean-Joël Barbier or the most recent François-Michel Rignol. © Pierre-Yves Lascar / Qobuz

These two long pieces may be Reich's least ambitious music, but they're easy to make an acquaintance with -- unlike Drumming and Tehillim. The Four Sections is performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Reich's percussion ensemble, and yet manages to project more personality than the ensemble alone does on Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ. The Four Sections is plain enjoyable. Under Michael Tilson Thomas' baton, the melodic patterns are pleasing, while the woodwinds and strings maintain the same bright, sharp momentum as the ensemble. Like Roy Lichtenstein's cover art, the title refers to the sections of the orchestra, with each section granted its own entrance and brief solo moments. You could even whistle some of it, but probably won't unless you can provide your own drone. Side two is where the lack of ambition isn't quite enough. The percussion and chanted voices of Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ get across by recalling the pulsing orchestrations of The Desert Music and the glassine harmonies of Music for 18 Musicians. But using Nurit Tillis' organ chords seems almost like cheating. The charm of Reich's finest minimalist experiments was to let harmony and rhythm dig themselves out of the woodwork -- or the wallpaper, in some peoples' opinion. The organ tends to resolve the harmonies too quickly, like it's rushing the percussionists along. © TiVo