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

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Gerard Hoffnung Concerts &
The Bricklayer Story

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23rd-27th May

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