Debussy: Orchestral Works

Claude Debussy (Composer), Pierre Boulez (Conductor), New Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Cleveland Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New Philharmonia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra
• Conductor: Pierre Boulez
• Composer: Claude Debussy
• Audio CD (December 5, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002C00
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,207 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Maxfield Parrish of classical music!, August 11, 2001

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R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Debussy: Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

Claude Debussy did not approve of his reputation as the impressionist of music. I'm sure he would approve even less, then, of being associated with the popular illustrator Maxfield Parrish, but the third movement of "Nocturnes," called "Sirenes," with wordless female vocals, puts me in a sun-dappled Parrish print with nymphs, framed by Greek pillars!

This is a great bargain -- ALL of Debussy's major orchestral works at mid-price. Boulez is fantastic, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra in 1966 and 1968, and the Cleveland Orchestra in 1967. The first disc opens with the majestic "La Mer." Paul Griffiths, author of the outstanding MODERN MUSIC AND AFTER, has referred to the "anger, yearning, and sense of threat" conveyed by this performance. The second disc opens with Debussy's best known work, "Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune," another entry into a world of fantastic, soothing images. And the "Danses" with Alice Chalifoux on harp, which close the set, are ethereal and marvelous.

This is a great introduction to Debussy. Boulez recently recorded most (not all) of these works again for DG. Griffiths says of the more recent "La Mer" that it is "better played, and much better recorded, but without the zing." Some prefer Dutoit with Montreal, and some like Bernstein. But if you're looking for one disc with superb recordings of Debussy's major works for orchestra, look no further.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Phenomenal Performances!, July 27, 2007

By 

Doug - Haydn Fan (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Debussy: Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

Boulez remains the gold standard for Debussy, and these performances only further cement his absolute sway as interpreter in this great composer's magisterial music. If certain works of Ravel, such as Daphnis et Chloe, or La Valse, call forth qualities of passion and drama that do not interest Boulez, no such shortcomings seem apparent when he approaches Debussy. The degree of exactness, and the uncanny character of the varying sounds of the instruments as they play off one another, remains unrivalled by any other living conductor. Listen, for example, to the opening of Nuages, from the Nocturnes - every possible ramification of note values, color contrasts, and ebb and flow of rhythms is miraculously conveyed. No one else comes close to this fastidiousness. Only a very great orchestra could do this, and the New Philharmonia could easily be mistaken for its legendary predecesor, the original Philharmonia of a decade earlier, one of the greatest of all orchestras.

These performances on the Sony CD were originally recorded in analogue. I find that a good thing, but if you prefer all digital there are much more recent recordings by Boulez of equal quality on DG. At the price this Sony reissue represents a tremendous bargain.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love Debusey, September 4, 2011

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Richard Bickerton - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Debussy: Orchestral Music (MP3 Download)

I love Debusey and you won't get a better rendition then Boulez. I tend to buy anthing that he recorded. Though I buy recordings of the same music from other conductors, his style always appeals to me.