Search - Charles Koechlin, Leif Segerstam, Rheinland-Pfalz Philharmonic :: Charles Koechlin: Le Livre de la Jungle (The Jungle Book) - Rheinland-Pfalz Philharmonic / Leif Segerstam

Admirable performances of a cut version of this marvelous wo

G.D. | Norway | 03/13/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Charles Koechlin's Jungle Book is a work of striking originality and impact, and the reason it is so rarely performed is probably due more to its scope, the large forces it requires and the enormous demands for virtuosity it puts on the players than doubts about the quality. Even Marco Polo cheats - and this is the main drawback of this recording - by eschewing the choral scenes; that makes the maimed work fit on a single disc, but also makes it uncompetitive compared to, say, Zinman's recording for RCA (the work consists of four symphonic poems and three songs - what we have here is, in other words, the symphonic poems). That said, the work still retains its impact, intoxicating colors and a harmonic and melodic profile that doesn't quite sound like anything else. It is a complex work and not an easy one for the listener with Koechlin's complex impressionism (short snippets of melody and rhythm emerging from a subtly morphing background tapestry of sound, then receding, is a recurring impression of the music), and forays into free atonality, sounding at times almost like Webern, but always with warmth, brilliance lushness and opulence.



So how does the performances fare? Really well, in fact. The Rheinland-Pfalz Philharmonic is one of the best orchestras Marco Polo has used with some regularity - they are generally clearly up to the task (a few moments of insecurity apart) and capture the subtly variegated textures and delicate sonorities very impressively. Segerstam leads a sensitive and compelling performance with full attention to the organic growth of the music. I cannot say that I have heard many competing versions of this work, but performancewise this one seems very competitive. The sound quality is pretty good as well, and overall I don't think anyone could possibly be disappointed by this release - if they know in advance that the songs are cut. And that is my main reason for withholding one star from this impressive performance of this intoxicating work."