Feathery fancies, terror, delightful unanimity, surreptitious
and mysterious spirit; all these are here. This is not quite the hyper-drilled
splendour of Szell's Cleveland but certainly it is viscerally stirring.
You will not be short of illustrations. Try the urgency in track 1 at
08.53. In scène aux champs Beecham injects threat and
tension into the fields; they shiver under louring clouds. The threat
is made palpable in the marche au supplice which ends in a blaze
and a volley of drums. Hearing this work again after a long break reminded
me how much of a musical revolutionary Berlioz was. Compare his dates
and those of Brahms and then compare their music. Berlioz’s temperament
was much closer to the next century than Brahms ever achieved. Of course
originality is not everything.
With yet fuller sound for the substantial 'extras'
including a hectically exciting yet still precise Corsaire this
disc is easily recommendable and not just to nostalgic collectors recalling
their record buying days in the 1960s. It is a while since I have heard
them but I would also recommend Frémaux's, Stokowski's and Paray's
versions of the Symphony. For a more modern recording John Eliot
Gardiner is reported to be well worth hearing.
The CD is generously timed; not something that can
always be said of this series.
Beecham's chemistry works in the currency of racy fervour
and accuracy with both the French orchestra and his own RPO. Easy to
recommend. Recommended.
Rob Barnett
Great Recordings
of the Century
Orchestre National
de la Radiodiffusion Française/Thomas Beecham