Search - Maurice Ravel, Jean Martinon, Chicago Symphony Orchestra :: Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole

Beautiful performances of Ravel

R. J. Claster | Van Nuys, CA United States | 04/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are warm hearted performances, full of nuance and sensitivity of expression, and beautifully played. Furthermore, the recorded sound is both very full bodied and detailed. I disagree with the previous reviewer who asserts that these performances are not properly French sounding compared with Martinon's later EMI recordings with the Orchestra de Paris (as to which, for what it is worth, Martinon said that he preferred his EMI Debussy recordings with the Orchestral National de France). Although I have not heard those performances, I don't think that Ravel's orchestral works fall flat unless they are played with somewhat nasal sounding brass and winds (i.e. the French sound). Instead, Martinon provides idiomatic phrasing combined with a virtuosity and beauty of orchestral sound beyond the capabilities of French orchestras of the time. Definitely one of the finest collections of his orchestral music."

Excellent Ravel, worthy of any collection.

M. A ORTEGA | Schaumburg, Illinois United States | 07/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD should be in any collection of fans of the CSO, Ravel, and Jean Martinon. First, this CD has rare and distinctive qualities. It is one of the few CSO recordings available with Jean Martinon as the conductor. The recorded sound of this CD is among the best I have heard of the CSO (after many years of sampling recordings in the CSO store). The "High Performance" designation BMG gave this CD is not a gimmick; the most discerning and critical listener will find the recording quality of the highest category. The "Introduction and Allegro" is a sadly under-performed and under-recorded piece, which I find among the most interesting and alluring pieces ever composed by Ravel. The only regret one will have after listening to this CD is that there were not many more RCA/CSO/Martinon recordings. The rare traits of this CD leave the listener wanting more, thus ensuring that the listener will reach for this CD over and over again as a favorite. Collectors with many recordings of these works needn't hesitate."

Chicago + Ravel + Martinon + RCA 24/96 Technology = Glory!

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 07/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For years I used to amaze friends with a cheap little used RCA Victrola - one of those hopelessly flexible records you could bend in several different directions at once that came out at the very nadir of domestic record production. The record: Martinon leading the Chicago Symphony in Ravel. Reiner fans who stood by their man in his earlier RCA run through of the "Rhapsodie Espagnole" were shaken to the core when they heard this version. "My Goodness!" I remember one devout Reiner believer softy exclaiming.



Well, now, or at least, back in the millenium year 2000, RCA reissued these recordings, and we again can hear these same stunning performances of Ravel played by the extraordinary Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Martinon on CD. And what a CD! For some inexplicable amd wonderful reason, perhaps for no other reason than because they could, some one at RCA decided they would make a few classical CDs so good they would blow anything else on the CD front out of the water. Whether or not you agree with the quality of many of the performances chosen for this series, labeled "High Performance", the sonic results are rather astonishing. When coupled with superb playing the results are nirvana.



And never more so than in these to-die-for Martinon readings of Ravel. I heard Martinon several times, and frankly he could be rather boring if the orchestra lacked any particular special quality. In San Francisco his Roussel and Ravel disappointed. However, in Chicago, well, there things were very much 'a horse of a different color'. In person leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra he was far more exciting than he'd sounded at the War Memiorial Opera House with the San Francisco Symphony. In Chicago he could galvanize an audience with his intensity. To get some idea of just what sort of experience this was try locating Martinon leading the Chicago in Nielsen's Symphony #4 Nielsen: Symphony No. 2 "The Four Temperaments"' Symphony No. 4 "The Inextinguishable"



The Ravel selections here, made at the time Martinon was leading the Chicago, produce a power and urgency which, when combined with a perfection of playing, is only equalled by Reiner's previous recordings with same orchestra for the same recording company a decade before. (There are several CDs of these Reiner recordings of Ravel - though sadly no Hybrid SACD version yet Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole; Debussy: IberiaReiner Sound and for far too muc money - Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales; Debussy: Iberia When I compared Martinon in "Alborado" as remastered on this CD with an ultra high tech 45rpm record version showcasing the Reiner's famous "Alborado" the result was flabbergasting. I never would have believed you could come so close to what I had always thought was a paragon performance and the ultimate recording medium.



The same happy astonishment takes place when listening to the CD reissue of the "Rhapsodie Espagnole" and the other Ravel selections. Plus the CD offers an extra not found on the Victrola record - Martinon leading the Chicago in Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2.



Great performances captured in thrilling sensational sound. If you can find one you won't regret it! Should RCA decide to issue this in their fabulous and ever so fairly priced SACD Hybrid series - since apparently it has been discontinued - Oh my goodness!

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