Search - Debussy, Tilson Thomas, Ambrosian Singers :: La Mer / 3 Nocturnes

Stunning

David Saemann | 12/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording was produced by the fine David Mottley at London's Abbey Road studio in 1982. For such an early digital recording, the sound picture is strikingly realistic and, as you would expect from digital, offers a superb dynamic range. One is tempted to remember that La Mer is a showpiece, even though there is nothing showy about Tilson Thomas's rendition. Throughout the score, there are places that usually turn to mud in other performances, but in which Tilson Thomas elicits subtly balanced and evocative playing. The brass are wonderful, as is the whole sense of ensemble--which in part is to the credit of the orchestra's music director at this time, Riccardo Muti. The Nocturnes are a little slower than usual, but they don't sag. Here and in La Mer, there are beautifully rendered string pianissimos, carefully captured by the sound engineers. For me, the classic recordings of these pieces are the La Mer with the same orchestra under Boulez, and Ansermet's Nocturnes. But for the advantage of hearing the scores done well in digital sound, this is hard to beat."