Customer Reviews

César Franck: Symphony in D Minor; Igor Stravinsky; Pétrouchka [Hybrid SACD]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Franck's Symphony in D has never been a favorite of mine. For years I have owned Charles Dutoit's 1991 recording with the Montreal Symphony. Every now and then I take it out and try listening to it again, wondering if I'll ever really enjoy it. I've heard a few other recordings, and none have ever excited me much, until I finally heard this classic rendition by Pierre Monteux, recorded in 1961 with the Chicago Symphony.

Monteux captures the Wagnerian sweep of the first movement, but never takes it over the top. It is a marvelously controlled and insightful performance with astonishing sound. RCA recorded this performance in three channel Living Stereo with the same orchestra and venue as the famed Fritz Reiner recordings. On SACD, this sounds far more sumptuous and full than Dutoit's much later digital recording (and the Montrealers were Decca's audiophile superstars in the eighties and nineties). This is simply an essential recording of this piece.

The pairing is no less valuable. Monteux had a close association with Stravinsky, premiering Petroushka with Diaghelev in Paris and presiding over the infamous Rite of Spring riot. This recording, of course, is a much later performance, but it is no less exciting to hear the original master directing. There is no lack of wonderful Petroushka recordings around, many in fine, modern sound; however, this one is superlative in virtually every way. The sound is excellent, aside from a bit of stridency in some of the crescendos. Otherwise, this recording stands with the best of the modern ones, and the performance exceeds most of them.

Don't hesitate. The price certainly can't be beat, especially for a hybrid SACD.

Irrespective of SACD, the remastering is first rate. The Petrouchka is the most vivid and colorful I have ever heard. As the program notes state, Monteux conducted the premiere and clearly has unique insight into the music. This is a "must have" for any Stravinsky aficionado. Consider the Franck an extra bonus, but buy the disk (at a bonus price, to boot) for the Pretrouchka!

The Franck recording was state-of-the-art for its time and even today vintage RCA recordings from this era are stand-outs. The SACD is terrific. I'm bewildered anyone would find the sound quality bad or, worse, dismiss the works of engineers of that era who often got spectacular results even in mono! Perhaps if ones ears are tuned entirely to technicolor Telarc stuff...

The Franck D-Minor, for reasons not quite obvious, is not wearing well with time and it's likely that it's one of those extremely Romantic works that needs a highly committed performance to bring it off well. I honestly haven't heard a modern (meaning last 40 years or so) performance that's done that--the temperament is of a wholly different age. However, a top-notch performance sells the work and you get it here, in the Munch recording with the BSO, with an old Silvestri recording from EMI, and with the classic Mengelberg that turns up in various incarnations.

As far as Monteux doing any Stravinsky goes there's no discussion. He got to the heart (and I mean heart) of these works, totally demolishing the myth that Stravinsky was a cold composer.

Monteux's interpretation of the Franck D minor Symphony is unparalleled. The tempo, phrasing, and dynamics are perfect. Even though the last eleven bars of the first movement are already triple forte (fff), and even though there is no notation by the composer, Monteux pushes it even louder in the last full bar. It's very powerful.

Not only is the interpretation the best, but the sound quality of this recording (recorded in 1961) is outstanding.

This is THE version of the Franck D minor Symphony to own.

Of all the recordings of the Franck Symphony this has become my one and only.
Monteux places the first and second violins on the left and right of the podium
which adds to the glory of the sound. Even with a slight rhythmic slip by the oboe
at the beginning, this is a perfect performance. The Stravinsky is simply mind-blowing.

The Franck can actually hold my interest.
Petrouschka is outstanding.
What I find wonderful is the playing and directing. Monteux is so clear. The BSO and CSO are perfect.
They play like immortals.
Great Stuff!!

I am very familiar with this symphony. I have a vinyl record we bought 30 years ago. I wanted it in CD because our turntable finally quit. The Franck Symphony is most likely my all time favorite symphony. I have recommended it to many music lovers and they all love it.

The Frank Symphony showed poor recording technique, that was common as of the date it was recorded. I would rate it 2 stars.

The Stravinsky on the other hand was well performed and recorded and would rate 5 stars.

Therefore I would rate this CD 3 stars.