Customer Reviews

Chausson: Symphony in B-Flat /Franck: Symphony in D

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I stumbled onto this recording of essential French symphonies, played by a first-class British orchestra conducted by a young and discerning Italian. International relations at their best! The result is musically superb, and the sound is excellent technically-- alive, open, and well balanced. I heard some musical details of this music for the firat time. The interpretation of the Franck symphony is young, passionate without being rushed, and seems to be attentive to the composer's specific directions about tempo. The Chausson is a densly chromatic romantic work that I had never before heard played by an orchestra of this calibre. Gorgeous! This was my first CD from ASV, and won't be my last.

D'Avalos was my conducting teacher at San Pietro Conservatory. And he is not young. He should have been at least 65 when he recorded this.

D'Avalos had built up an enviable reputation for his recordings with London's Philharmonia, and this disc lives up to it splendidly. This is one of the best readings of the Franck I have ever heard. The brass chorales are thrilling and sonorous, while the whole symphony has a breadth and energy that is very hard to find. The engineering is by the estimable Brian Culverhouse, and the results are striking: full, vivid, with just the slightest thinness to the string sound. The Chausson is my favorite recording of the work. I started out with the Munch LP, and continued to acquire CDs by Paray, Tortelier, and Plasson. D'Avalos brings out the drama in the work, while maintaining a beautiful sonority. In sum, this is a favorite CD of mine.