Customer Reviews

Lorin Maazel conducts Ravel ~ Boléro, Daphnis et Chloé Suites 1 & 2, La valse, Rapsodie espagnole

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When I bought this disk, I was looking for a "definitive account" of Ravel's powerhouse orchestral pieces. It's not definitive, and to someone unacquainted with these pieces, maybe not even that interesting.

But if you know Bolero, Rhapsodie Espagnole and La Valse, you're in for a real treat, because Maazel and the Vienna Philharmonic flagrantly overplay everything on this disk. Phrases in La Valse and Rhapsodie are stretched nearly to their breaking points. The orchestrations in Bolero are Technicolor vivid.

What makes this disk especially wonderful is the sensation that each of the performances is the work of a single mind. The Vienna Philharmonic plays as though they were a unified extension of Maazel, and he's a sharp one. The recorded sound is unbelievably lush.

If you want definitive, look to Munch's recordings with the Boston Symphony or Dutoit's with Montreal. When you're ready for Ravel overload, come here.

I bought this CD after hearing the performance of La Valse on radio, which blew me away. The previous reviewer's words -Ravel Overload- is an accurate description of this performance. This is as dreamy, violent, and sensual as La Valse can ever get.
Bolero, however, is a big disappointment. None of the woodwind or sax players seems to be quite prepared to play the solo. It's as if they came into the session without having made up their mind on how to play it. I honestly don't care how this deceptively simple melody is played - it can be anything from Indian to Mozartian. But I would expect it to be played with care, taste and sensuality. From ensemble standpoint, it's a poor execution. Maazel misses the bus when he is supposed to increase the volume slightly, and tries to catch up by pumping it up at once - the sense of Crescendo Continuo is gone by then. The rhythm gets unstable before the climax. Interpretative freedom? I think it's just loss of control. The final bang is loud but hey, it's too late to make up for all the disasters that have gone by.
Other pieces are well-played but I can't believe Mr. Maazel and the producer allowed this poor recording of Bolero to be on a commercial release. To me, it's a great example of low standard. To be fair, Bolero is an extremely difficult piece to play well especially the solo parts. I feel most of the classical players don't quite get it. I wonder what if jazz horn players play the solos instead... with slight improvisation! I think Ravel would delight at it.