Franck: Symphony in D minor; Lalo: Symphony in G minor; Fauré: Pavane [Import]

Beecham (Artist), Orchestre National De La Radio Diffusion Francaise (Artist), Cesar Franck (Composer), Thomas Sir Beecham (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Thomas Sir Beecham
• Composer: Cesar Franck
• Audio CD (July 12, 2005)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B0002RUAC4
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #875,135 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I. Lento - Allegro Non Troppo

2. II. Allegretto -

3. III. Allegro Non Troppo

4. I. Andante - Allegro Non Troppo

5. II. Vivace

6. III. Adagio

7. IV. Allegro

8. Pavane Op.50

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Franck performance by Beecham together with interesting Lalo, September 14, 2011

By 

jt52 "jt52" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Franck: Symphony in D minor; Lalo: Symphony in G minor; Fauré: Pavane (Audio CD)

This disc combines two 1959 performances by conductor Thomas Beecham moonlighting as the conductor of the French ORTF orchestra, with which he worked extensively and successfully for several years. The bottom line is that the CD is excellent and I recommend it strongly.

The two featured works date from 1886 and 1888, so it is a concentrated dose of Parisian orchestral music from just a couple of seasons. The better known of the two pieces is the Cesar Franck Symphony in d minor (1888), a passionate three-movement work with a beguiling and memorable Allegretto in the middle, which prominently features an English horn. If you don't know this symphony, you'll want to hear it for the Allegretto alone. Eduard Lalo's Symphony in g minor (1886) was neglected until Beecham revived it. In four movements, I'll apply the term "interesting" to this work - take the adjective at face value without its pejorative connotations - which is written in an unusual style: slower melodies (many quarter and half notes), insistent rhythms throughout (sforzandi and accompaniments with steady rhythms), and heavy use of winds. The work has met a mixed reception, but I like it and actually prefer it to Lalo's most famous work, the earlier "Symphonie espagnole", which it is very different from in stylistic terms. The disc also contains Faure's attractive Pavane as a third item.

The Beecham/ORTF interpretation of the Franck symphony is a classic and the years have not dimmed its zest and lively musicality. Of the three recordings I have, this remains my favorite. The Lalo is also performed well. The recording may be from 1959 but it is in very good sound and in no way distracts from a wonderful CD.