Search - Debussy, Ravel, Stokowski :: La Mer / Daphnis & Chloe Suite 2

STOKOWSKI'S "LA MER" THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE EVER!

Wolfgang | Austria | 03/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This performance of Debussy's "La Mer", legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski's final recording of the work for Decca in 1970, is simply the finest ever of this piece. In fact, Stokowski leaves all other conductors before or since in the dust with this magnificent interpretation. The string sound produced by the London Symphony players, is amazing, even for Stokowski and the incredible virtuoso playing Stokowski gets from the brass in the finale has to be heard to be believed. Stokowski brings out textures and nuances in Debussy's brilliant orchestration that most other performances gloss over. The Decca Phase 4 sound, controversial for its time, holds up remarkably well and this recording sounds better and more balanced than the majority of recordings made today. As far as the virtuoso playing and sound Stokowski gets from the orchestra, it is safe to say that no conductor living today could even come close in getting such remarkable playing from an orchestra. And if that isn't enough this CD includes a superb, never equaled performance of Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of A Faun", Stokowski's own brilliant transcription of Debussy's "The Engulfed Cathedral" and an eccentric but gloriously performed suite No. 2 from Maurice Ravel's ballet, "Daphnis et Chloe". This CD is a must-have for the finest "La Mer" ever but also to hear the kind of inspired playing and performance a truly great conductor can get from an orchestra, the like of which, if judging by today's largely dull, uninspiring conductors and orchestras, we shall never witness again."

One of the maestro's most treasured recordings

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 05/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stokowski's London Phase 4 stereo "La Mer" has been a dazzling experience since its arrival in the late 1960s. His merger of impressionism, theatricality and romantic abandon will likely persuade even the most hardened French impressionist of the rightness of this calling. Don't look for a clinical reduction a al Boulez in these scenes of the ocean, and don't look for the overstatement Munch provides on his famous recording. Instead, look to a middle ground where the romantic palette is mated to recorded opulence, interpretive eloquence and orchestral virtuosity.



The maestro had a fine ear for French impressionism and recorded it often for EMI and London. This recording came relatively late in his career. The famous blue-green cover was an entree to the wonders of 1960s Phase 4 technology that used a couple dozen microphones in the studio sessions, took everything to the production room where, under Stokowkski's direction, the music would be remixed and represented in a way not heard before or since. It was all very unreal, of course, but not so much it didn't still qualify as classical music. Today's emphasis on recorded and score authenticity is 180 degrees from this philosophy. Based on the presentation here, while today's style presents a certain reality, it is not necessary an improvement over what once was considered the perfect recording.



The other elements of this program -- Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, the composer's orchestration of Debussy's The Engulfed Cathedral, originally from a book of 12 piano preludes, and Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2 for orchestra -- are what makes this among the most treasured recordings Stoki made. His scoring, presentation and interpretation of The Engulfed Cathedral is a masterwork of mystery and majesty, very much in a vein with the many recordings Stoki presided over of the afternoon of the faun. The Daphnis and Chloe finale is a fitting and lasting romantic tribute to this conductor, who was surely one of the most remarkable musicians of the 20th century.



I've made a habit of collecting recordings of "La Mer" and have heard many fines ones over the years including a few newer super audio recordings that did a lot for the sound as well as the music. I have continually returned to this recording for my reference point, however. As only he could do, Stokowski treads the fine line between impressionism and romance, merging the best of the respective worlds of musical understatement and overstatement.



While these are out of print used copies being offered by Amazon vendors, the "La Mer" from this recording has come back to life via Arkiv, who bought the rights from London and will burn you a new one for about $15. For reasons both sentimental than musical, I far prefer this version with its original program, jacket and innards -- ads for other Phase 4 recordings also NLA. I own this one and I've owned the Arkiv version and both sound fine. But only here do you get Stoki's famous Engulfed Cathedral and the rest of this fine program.



I'd call this one of the greatest recordings of the 20th century and surely worth whatever modest price you are required to pay to obtain it."

Wonderful Stokowski

Carlos Quintero | Caracas, Venezuela | 10/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
In total agreement with Mr. Hurwitz, this is an awesome recording

of La Mer. There's no match for this incredible rendition. Despite this

CD is out of print, it is possible to get this La Mer in Stokowski album

by DECCA."