Customer Reviews

Honegger: Symphonies #1-5, Pacific 231; Michel Plasson; Orchestre du Capitole du Toulouse

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EMI has had their share of questionable reissues lately, but the label's new "Gemini" series is certainly something to get excited about. These two-disc titles feature first rate performances at a true budget price, even less expensive than the company's own "Double Forte" line. As I did not have a complete Honegger cycle in my collection, I decided to get this set recently featuring the five Symphonies and Pacific 231 (Mouvement Symphonique No. 1). These recordings by Michel Plasson and the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse from the late 1970s are enjoyable, if not stellar. I certainly don't prefer the accounts featured here to those I have by Karajan (Syms 2 & 3), Munch (Syms 2 & 5 with Boston and Sym 2 with Paris) and Scherchen (Pacific 231), but I'm still glad to have purchased it. At this low price, what's not to like?

This a nice set: you get all the symphonies and Pacific 231 for a good price. But don't count on this set alone for all the symphonies. Neeme Jarvi on Chandos for Syms. 3 & 5 and Pacific 231 should act as a supplement to this set.

Honegger's symphonies (excepting the 4th) are all very energetic works. He is famous for his "train piece," Pacific 231. Well, in these symphonies you will have a lot of Pacific 231's. Symphony No.1 starts off ferociously, but the music is very lyrical in the middle movement. Honegger liked to write his middle movements to be very lyrical to contrast with the dynamic outer movements. The contrast works well.

Other highlights include the entire second symphony, especially the last movement. Symphony No.3 is the most famous, and for good reason. But here, Plasson can't compete with the much weightier and frightening version by Neeme Jarvi on Chandos. The last two symphonies have a lot more quietude than the first three. No.4 is almost completely lyical. No.5 is quiet, but in a dark way.

Honegger's music may be on the "screaming" side to some people, but for those of you who love Shostakovich, Martinu, Prokofiev, and the wild Beethoven...you'll really like this music.