There is an enormous
amount to admire in Munch’s reading
of Saint-Saëns’ ‘Organ’ symphony,
right from the glowing strings of the
opening through to the truly superbly
articulated first-movement climax. Munch
gets real delicacy from his Bostonians
in the Poco adagio, and the organ’s
entry in the finale is certainly highly
impressive. Perhaps the Scherzo could
be more on-the-ball, though. This remains
one of the top recommendations for this
piece (I rate Frémaux and the
CBSO alongside it – EMI Eminence CDEMX2259).
But the real value
of this disc lies in the Debussy. This
has to be one of the most sensitive
of all La mers, fluent and fluid
with a real francophile feel to the
dancing rhythms – this is a real Frenchman’s
response to the sea, wherever he may
be. If the ‘Jeux de vagues’ could possibly
be more elusive, it remains a convincing
account. The final movement, ‘Dialogue
du vent et de la mer’, is supremely
harmonically sensitive, the Bostonians’
responses miraculously fast to Debussy’s
language. Brass blaze forth magnificently
towards the end, the recording helping
to delineate the various strands in
this notoriously difficult ending.
Finally, Jacques Ibert’s
Escales of 1922, music that seems
to fit perfectly into this programme.
Heard in a performance as carefully-prepared
as this one, it seems laughable that
this delightful, masterly-scored work
is not heard more often. Munch underlines
the sensuality of the first movement
(‘Rome-Palerma’, marked ‘Calme’). There
is even a feeling of ecstasy at the
climax of this movement, and dark clouds
are few and far between. The very snake-charmer-like
oboe of ‘Tunis-Nefta’ is immensely appealing
(Ralph Gomberg is the superb oboist
here). The bustling, castanet decorated
‘Valencia’ makes for a playful finale.
The sense of the Bostonians having fun
is almost palpable.
A wonderfully programmed,
disc, the sound is fully up to its claim
of ‘Hi-Fi Spectacular!’. But the standard
and integrity of the performances take
this way higher than a mere sonic show-disc.
Colin Clarke
Berj Zamkochian (organ, Saint-Saëns)
