Customer Reviews

Claude Debussy: La Mer; Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune; Danse; Nocturnes

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In the 1950s and 60s, CBS/Columbia (now Sony Classical) had the great fortune to have three of America's best orchestras and their conductors on its recording roster -- Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. Nearly a half-century later, sadly only Leonard Bernstein remains a name that even the non-classical music world knows well. But in the world of the compact disc, this is a wonderful thing, because while Leonard Bernstein analog stereo recordings sell at mid-price, classic performances by Ormandy and Szell are regulated to the budget line. Well, my friends there is justice because the vast majority of these "budget line" recordings are not only amazing, but some are still considered definitive more than 40 years later! This 1959 golden-age stereo recording of Debussy's "La Mer" by Ormandy and the Philadelphians has to be included in that list. Throw in terrific performances of "Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune," "Danse" (both from 1959), and the "Nocturnes" (from 1964), and you've got a classic disc. Never did something of such high quality come at such a small price. Enjoy!

Eugene Ormandy always did have the lush sound that fits Debussy beautifully. The Philadelphia Orchestra is absolutely on top of their game and the Nocturnes have rarely sounded more sensual than they do here. How lucky we are that Sony Classical gives out such pearls at such prices! A special highlight here is Faune with William Kincaid sitting out his last year on the flute throne - a fortunate record indeed. If you play or love the flute, be sure to get this recording. Kincaid trained most of the great American flute players of the mid 20th Century (Julius Baker was one of his more famous students), thereby spreading his voice through the decades to the present day. It's a wonderful thing to hear the master do it himself. Absolutely an essential recording for all the pieces represented.