Search - Francis Poulenc, Robert Muczynski, Claude Debussy :: Julius Baker in Recital

Warts and all

Michael Schubert | Vallejo, CA USA | 12/04/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I am a flutist who had the honor of performing in master classes and attending recitals with Mr. Baker and Ms. Logan in the 1970s and 1980s, so when I ordered this CD, I just KNEW it would be a fabulous keepsake of those unforgettable experiences of 20 years ago. Sadly, I was mistaken. I simply can't understand why there is no better recorded documentation of Mr. Baker and Ms. Logan's wonderful recitals, and it breaks my heart.



First, this is an uncleaned live performance, warts and all. The microphones pick up an unforgivable amount of audience noise, and the harsh interruption of loud coughs (and even a sneeze!) will make you wish you could travel back in time and slap the offenders in the face. If you can believe it, some idiot even coughs in the solo introductory bars of "Afternoon of a Faun"!



Second, and with all due respect to the wonderful late Mr. Baker, this is not the way you want to remember him. His phrasing is often inelegant and there are frequent flubs. He was 67 at the time of this recording and clearly past his prime.



The two instruments are recorded with good clarity, though the acoustics are rather bare and unflattering.



The meager booklet provides only musician bios and a picture of Julie with Lenny (Bernstein)."