Search - Claude Debussy, Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra :: Debussy: Nocturnes; La Mer; Prélude a l'apres-midi d'un faune

Opposite of Amazon.com Review

Musician2005 | 03/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I find this Debussy quite stimulating, in contrast to the Amazon.com review which is rather unkind to this work. Hearing a conductor like Solti, known for harshness, doing something like Debussy is interesting in itself - and the music here speaks quite plainly for itself. It is not romantically or impressionistically molded and crafted, but instead played with characteristic Solti/CSO boldness and "tang." If you like music with some life, not lush/plush plodding of cool intellectualism, this CD is a great buy. Solti I often find to be underated, most likely due to his brash sound not always being welcomed by the ears of more sensitive subjects. Debussy pulsates with life, though, and I personally find a a good match here with Solti, though as all reviews created equal, whether by some top notch critic or a simpleton, that's only my opinion."

Highly Regarded, for Good Reason

Music Is Everything | Colorado Springs, CO USA | 09/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's too bad that Amazon managed to find one of the lackluster reviews for this recording, since the vast majority of reviews have been glowing, and for good reason. This is a later effort by the Chicago Symphony and Georg Solti--a team that has an astonishing recorded legacy and a string of Grammy awards. If there is a consistent criticism of their earlier recordings, it's the London/Decca label's close mic-ing and two-dimensional approach to sound, but London/Decca had moved into a new phase by this time. They still had plenty of close microphones for clarity, but they were doing a much better job capturing the full sound of the orchestra and the resonance of the concert hall. The result here is one of the best recordings of Debussy I've ever heard. Solti has a knack for Debussy, even if he had mixed results in the rest of the French repertoire, and his command of these three masterpieces results in completely persuasive performances. The Chicago Symphony is uncannily solid, while the new recording methods go a long way to capturing the warmth and depth of their sound, not just the volume. "Nocturnes" is fantastically colorful and powerful, especially the orchestral powerhouse movement "Fetes," while the Chicago Symphony Chorus women are convincing "Sirenes" in the final movement. "La Mer" is so subtly layered and flowing that you'll smell the salt air--a rare gift in recorded performances of this masterpiece. And "Afternoon of a Faun" is so transparent and sensuous that it only gets better with repeated listenings. In these days of overrecorded repertoire, Debussy recordings come and go, but this one has the mark of enduring excellence. Enjoy."