Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; Rhapsody for Orch. & Saxophone; La Mer / Ravel: La valse; Bolero [Live]

Kenneth Radnofsky (Performer), Maurice Ravel (Composer), Claude Debussy (Composer), Kurt Masur (Conductor), Jeanne Baxtresser (Performer), New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Kenneth Radnofsky, Jeanne Baxtresser
• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Kurt Masur
• Composer: Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy
• Audio CD (April 15, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Teldec / Wea
• ASIN: B000000S8S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #396,445 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #79 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Reeds & Winds > Saxophone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Recording of Faune, May 6, 2002

By 

E. Raichart "L.G.R. Flutist" (Broomfield, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; Rhapsody for Orch. & Saxophone; La Mer / Ravel: La valse; Bolero (Audio CD)

I am a professional flutist, and this is the best recording of Prelude a l'apres midi d'une faune that I have heard. Of course, Jeanne Baxtresser's performance (flute) is flawless and musical. The CD is very well recorded, and each piece is performed impeccably and with the highest artistry. In my opinion, this CD sets the standard for these works. Buy it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Warm, polished playing, but Masur has no feeling for this music, April 8, 2011

By 

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

This review is from: Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; Rhapsody for Orch. & Saxophone; La Mer / Ravel: La valse; Bolero (Audio CD)

No one thought that Kurt Masur would bring incandescent inspiration to the NY Phil. when he arrived in 1991, but he had a reputation as an orchestra builder, much needed after the laxness of the Zubin Mehta era, and he was an imposing presence, especially after the fight he led against the Communist regime in East Germany. It was humiliating for Masur that his contract was abruptly curtailed in 2002, but he had accomplished what was wanted. In addition, he was the last music director to bring a recording contract with him, even if it was another kind of humiliation that one of America's flagship orchestras -- and our national orchestra, really, under Bernstein -- had to turn to a German label. But Teldec stood by their commitments, churning out one CD after another that left critics cold because of Masur's dull proficiency, and sales slumped.

I've revisited as many of these releases as I can find, and in this program of standard fare from Debussy and Ravel we hear the best and worst of what Masur could do. In L'apres midi the playing is lovely in all respects, showing off the delicacy of the Philharmonic's woodwinds and, of course, the solo flute. the saxophone playing in the Rapsodie is voluptuous (if you can't find a great sax in New York, well...). La mer is done with unusual warmth and smoothness; it rolls like caramel off the page. but one's attention has already begun to wander, because Masur has so little sympathy for the music. There is neither enough heart nor the thrill of sparkling virtuosity.

This was the problem in disc after disc for the decade that Masur held tenure, and I must say that at the time I resented how he wasted the potential of a great orchestra, all the sadder after Bernstein died and no longer made guest appearances to resurrect his old band. As for the Ravel items, La valse is square, without a int of menace or slinkiness, and Bolero doesn't vamp.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Voice of Dissent, February 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; Rhapsody for Orch. & Saxophone; La Mer / Ravel: La valse; Bolero (Audio CD)

Did you notice the other two reviews disagree on which pieces are the bad ones? Masur does a great job of interpreting one of the more difficult composer's works (Debussy) and nicely handles the more popular and familiar as well (Ravel). This is a good intro to two composers that are often compared--and often share space on one CD.