RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

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Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Turangalîla (1946-48) Paul Crossley (piano) Tristan Murail (ondes martenot) Philharmonia Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen rec. 1986, London. DDD SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK89900 [77.41]

This is quite a hard-edged version of the symphony. If you have tired of readings that swoon too easily then this is for you. The brutal assaults of the Introduction and even the Chant d'Amour will give you a representative impression of the approach. Personally I prefer a less objective stance. This all seems too deconstructed and cool. There should be a more sensual dazzle to the playing. The ondes martenot is very discretely balanced too which is a pity though I grant you that this probably gives a much fairer picture of how you might hear the instrument in a concert hall. Even the famous Joie du sang des etoiles seems coldly stirring rather than passionate. Paul Crossley is typically brilliant but Tristan Murail's ondes martenot sounds surprisingly tubby. The orchestra is magnificent. It is just that the piece seems to lack any sensual charge. Salonen rather out-Boulezs Boulez and with that remark you will know now whether or not this is for you. Personally I prefer the Previn version or even the original Ozawa now on BMG's Artistes+Répertoires label coupled with two Roussel symphonies. Rob Barnett Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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