Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé

Maurice Ravel (Artist), Charles Munch (Artist), Bso (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 10, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003FKN
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,346 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A second Best Daphnis, August 23, 2004

By 

R. V. Wendel (NYC, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Audio CD)

Munch recorded this gem with the BSO twice for RCA. Two different producers, and two different engineers. Lewis Layton who, along with Bob Fine at Mercury, set the standards for early analog stereo. They were very much the Toscanini and Stokowsky of the mixing boards. This disc is a re-release of the stereo 1955 version which in LP was only released in mono, but in a very deluxe fold-open jacket with book and illustrations by a then unknown Andy Warhol. Munch's performance is astounding in every sense, and the BSO responds brilliantly. Unfortunately, engineer Leslie Chase was basically only experimenting with stereo at this point, and used a basic "binaural" technique... that is, only 2 channels. As a result, the winds seem fuzzy and a bit diffuse at times, and the timpani also seem a bit distant. 6 years later, Munch repeated the same, exciting and sensual performance, but this time Lewis Layton had perfected true 3 channel recording in Symphony Hall, with less tape hiss, and wider dynamic range, resulting in cleaner, more defined sound, with rock steady winds and new timpanist Vic Firth knowing exactly where his solos were. The results earned RCA and Lewis Layton Grammy awards. Why RCA won't re-release this recording is beyond me, so I had to order it from JVC in Japan. Till we get the 5 star version available in THIS country, enjoy this 4 star preview.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Classic, November 10, 2003

By 

Music Expert "tom807" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Audio CD)

This is a great version of Daphnis et Chloe, and my choice for a classic, analog recording of this gem. It is in fact, a fantastic "Living Stereo" recording, rivaling many modern day recordings. My choice for a digital versions are many -- but so many of the good ones sound so similar to each other!(But check out Boulez's on DG). Munch injects his "French-ness" into the music like none other except maybe Monteaux, who's own version on Decca is good, but I like the recording quality of Munch's better. A star off because of the tape hiss, but otherwise a keeper.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The One!, August 1, 2003

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Audio CD)

Since its release in the 1950s (first as a mono LP and then in its true stereo incarnation), Charles Munch's account of Ravel's Daphnis Et Chloe has been the standard bearer. For years classical fans loved to say that the Boston Symphony under Munch was the world's greatest French orchestra, and whether you believe that or not, it is impossible to argue against him being one of the great interpreters of French music. This disc is one of the jewels in RCA's Living Stereo series, and it is guaranteed not to disappoint.