Search - C. Debussy :: Orchestral Works (Complete)

A bargain

J. Leberg | St. Marys, Ontario Canada | 09/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This four disc album contains a great deal of music which I have not heard until now. I would have to say that there is a reason for this. Much of the music is second rate and uninspired. Nevertheless the album as a whole provides an exceptional insight into the creative development of Debussy. The orchestra is provincial with the middle strings constantly struggling with intonation. The conductor is excellent. At a price of $12US it is definitely a bargain for anyone interested in Debussy."

Not the best Debussy available, but an amazing bargain

steve | DeKalb, IL USA | 05/26/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Debussy set originated on the Vox label in the early 1970s. I was a college music major with little money to spend, and I often bought Vox Boxes because they were a simple and inexpensive way to build a classical record library. Vox issued these recordings in two 3-disc Vox Boxes containing the orchestral works; the works for solo instrument and orchestra were issued as a single disc on Vox's Candide label. Vox later reissued these on compact disc as two boxed sets of two discs each. Oddly enough, Volume 1 is still available, but Vox only offers Volume 2 as an MP3 download. But no worries; Germany's Membran has issued all four discs in a single boxed set at an absolutely amazing price.



Froment's performances are very good, solid interpretations; they are very clear and bright, without any of the murkiness of some Debussy recordings. However, the Radio Luxembourg Orchestra is decidedly not a world-class ensemble; they are competent but their sound has a slightly unpolished quality. If you want the absolute best Debussy out there, I recommend the set conducted by Jean Martinon.



Incidentally, there is some disagreement as to what constitutes the "complete orchestral works" of Debussy, as he occasionally farmed out orchestration chores to colleagues and gave permission for other arrangements. Each of the available sets has slightly different contents. Froment's set applies a stricter definition and does not include some things you find in other collections, but all of the core works are here.



If you want this set, I suggest acting quickly, as it seems to be disappearing rapidly. I tried to order it from my local Borders and they were unable to get it and have since removed it from their catalog."

The best complete Debussy orchestral set

Eric Zuesse | USA | 04/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Louis de Froment was what many other French conductors weren't: a really great conductor of French music. His Debussy is exquisitely modulated from whisper-soft to crashingly loud, shaped to the long line and not merely to achieve sensationalistic effect. Froment's Luxembourg orchestra was totally responsive to his vision, and the balance between the inner lines is perfect. This is a Debussy that's sensuous in a radiant way, neither dark and brooding, nor garishly bright, but just calm and sunny, like a beautiful day on the seashore, relaxing but certainly not boring. It's Debussy.



The only other conductor who was as stellar on Debussy was the German Max Pommer, whose Leipzig recording of the major Debussy works (La Mer, Nocturnes, and Afternoon of a Faun) enjoys a slight edge for listeners who feel happier with a Debussy sky that's cool gray, rather than sunny blue. However, Pommer didn't record the complete orchestral works of Debussy, and Froment is clearly the best on that. Also the three one-movement concerti on this set, respectively for piano, sax, and clarinet, all have excellent soloists. This is virtually a definitive complete Debussy orchestral set: Everything in it is excellent."