Bizet: Symphony in C; L'Arlésienne Suites

Georges Bizet (Composer), Thomas Beecham (Conductor), Radio France National Orchestra (Orchestra), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Radio France National Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Thomas Beecham
• Composer: Georges Bizet
• Audio CD (March 14, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00004R8TK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,056 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Performances to treasure for all time., June 24, 2001

By 

John Austin "[e-mail]" (Kangaroo Ground, Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bizet: Symphony in C; L'Arlésienne Suites (Audio CD)

When Beecham came to Australia, one cartoonist depicted him as conducting with a magic wand. Listen to him conducting these colourful Bizet orchestral items and you'll know why. In the "L'Arlesienne" suites, the melodic lines, especially for woodwinds, are beautifully phrased, there is amazing gusto in the Farandole, and the string playing in the Adagietto is like gossamer. The Bizet symphony was recorded in Paris during Beecham's last series of recording sessions. The 80 year old conductor works his magic here too, identifying and eliciting all the freshness of the 17 year old composer's symphony. These are performances to treasure for all time.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beecham is old-fashoined and loving in this Bizet collection, July 13, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bizet: Symphony in C; L'Arlésienne Suites (Audio CD)

British record collectors accept as gospel that this hisotrical colleciton of Bizet's popular Symphony in C and L'Arlesienne Suites is one for the ages. I love Beecham, but his conducting here tends to be loving at the expense of vibrancy and scintillating playing. In fact, the French radio orchestra, though blessed with a delicious Gallic sound, is not an ensemble of great players. EMI's sound is detailed but noticeably thin and edgy at loud volume.

Most music lovers already own favorite versions of the Symphony in C. I swear by the thrilling version from Bernstein and the NY Phil. on Sony. But if you want a relaxed, affectionate reading, Beecham's is certainly favored by many.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An artistic triumph for the eternity!, December 5, 2004

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bizet: Symphony in C; L'Arlésienne Suites (Audio CD)

Do you really know any other recording that can match with this performance ?
The Symphony in C is a gift for your ears . It is not a deep work but who cares?.
The elegant style and supreme elegance directorial in Beecham makes you to forget the search for the expression, the color and exact intention of the composer .
The Suites ae exquisite though Paul Paray is a serious matcher with the Detroit Symphony .
Beecham was a conductor much better than the great majority of the people think . Another triumphs from his glorious batoon were The Jupiter Symphony ; Sibelius fourth , Delius symphonic works and Liszt Fausto among the most remarkables .