Search - Paul [composer] Dukas, Jean Fournet, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra :: Dukas L'Apprenti Sorcier

Great works, great orchestra, great conductor

K. Nagel | Erlangen | 02/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jean Fournet and the Netherlands Radio Orchestra are not exactly household names on disc, but undeservedly so. The orchestra I know from other recordings and they play as great with other conductors too. Probably one of the greatest unknown world-class orchestras at all. French-born Fournet did these recordings pretty late in his live (between 77 and 79) and very occasionally you hear it in some overslow bars. But the sound !! Never have you heard La Peri in such opulence - open the window on a warm sunny evening and immerge in those luscious melodies.
Almost the same goes to the Symphony which is treated as a French work in the Franck tradition with beauty and refinement of sound adding to some robust writing instead of fiddling swiftly through like most competitors who make it sound like a Mendelssohn latecomer (and Fournet is actually not slower). Finally this is a turn-of-the-century work! Apprenti is with a slow basic tempo, and sometimes you wish that he lets go now finally, but never has every phrase been so beautifully molded. If you want these works, go for this recordings instead of Lopez-Cobos, Slatkin, Jordan, Martinon. The only slight disappointment is the recorded sound from Netherlands Radio (Denon only licensed it), which is too distantly recorded, making it reverberant and a little glassy, though it is full enough. But nothing one could not live with provided the greatness of the performance. Special gimmick of this CD: every theme and part of every piece is cued with an index point (if your player can do them) and explanation in the booklet, what a fantastic idea!"

Great effort - a vindication for unjust neglect

I. J. J. Nieuwland | Amsterdam | 01/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the fortune of seeing this combination (Fournet/NRO) perform Dukas' symphony and that experience left me longing for a recording - which Fournet obligingly supplied. It didn't disappoint. Due to an over-critical attitude, Dukas destroyed most of his own work, but it has to be said that the few scraps that remained are worth listening to. The symphony, whose construction reminds of Franck, is a grandiose piece, full of life and optimism. La Péri lacks the life of the symphony, but it is an intriguing piece nonetheless, and L'apprenti Sorcier hardly needs any introduction. All in all a very worthwile recording of pieces that have been neglected for far too long - may many follow in Fournet's footsteps."

Fournet is phantastique !

a-b | Austria | 05/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fournet is one of the best conductors of the 20th Century! Most of all for the french composeres! Everyone who loves more lyrical than dramatical interpretations will love that record very much!"