Debussy Rediscovered
Barbara P. Powell | Fairfax, California | 02/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Outstanding rendition of previously unrecorded pieces by Debussy, as well as some favorites (Clair d'Lune, for example). The music is lush, full and played faultlessly. Hats off to Emil de Cou and the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. Here's hoping we'll hear more from this group!"
Lush and Transportive.
Jim Ross | Dallas, TX USA | 06/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Maestro de Cou introduced this CD to me himself by showing it to me one night in a bar. My interest at the time was only cursory. However, I did eventually buy it, after having first purchased a recording of a Debussy string quartet and then wanting to hear many more of Debussy's works. I could not have made a better selection for this purpose. The music on this recording is so lovely, so well-performed, and so evocative, it will take you to another place. This was an excellent project for the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, helping to set them apart from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, which itself has dabbled in many recent interesting projects recently under the very able baton of Michael Tilson Thomas. I very much hope there will be future offerings from the SF Ballet Orchestra under Emil de Cou's directorship that will continue to take us to new and wonderful listening experiences."
Rediscovered indeed
Bruce Gray | Shenandoah Valley, VA, USA | 12/28/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is very unfortunate that this absolutely marvelous CD seems to be unavalable anymore.The selections of Debussy's previously unrecorded works is at time lush and evocative, and at times relaxing and comtemplative.The "Six Epigraphs" were based on poetry pieces that had been written by Pierre Louys. It is very unfortunate that the poems that inspired Debussy are not included with the liner notes. I would have liked to be able to read what Debussy saw that made him want to write this fantastic music.The only piece that people have heard before, the "Suite Bergamesque" is presented in probably one of the best sounding versions of that selection I have ever heard. The "Clair De Lune" is especially poignant.The reconstructed version of "Printemps" is very modern for its time. Based on the original 1887 version, Emil De Cou does a fantastic job of making this sound like something that Debussy had completed."La Puerta Del Vino" has a very Spanish feel and it's a wonder why we don't hear this short work more often. Henri Busser does a great job of orchestrating this treasure."Pagodes" has a very oriental feel, and complements the spanish selection well. Andre Caplet provides a musical picture of the Far East with this almost unknow piece of Debussy's work.Hopefully, someone of "The Powers That Be" will see this review and reissue this magnificent collection of Debussy's almost unknown and almost undiscovered works by the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1