Search - Debussy, Casadesus, Lille National Orchestra :: Nocturnes / La Mer

Among the best available and a superbargain

R. J. Claster | Van Nuys, CA United States | 01/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has become my basic recommendation for these works because in addition to the quality of the interpretations themselves, and the low price of this CD, its sound quality surpasses in both richness, clarity and dynamic range that for any of the performances of comparable quality on record I have heard (and I have listened to plenty of recordings of these works). Furthermore, the La Mer is distinguished by bringing out detail and nuances of the percussion that one fails to hear in most recordings (only Toscanini-NBC on RCA and the live stereo Inghelbrecht on Disques Montaigne match Casadesus here in this respect). Moreover, all these performances to me have a very french quality, meaning that they possess both a noticably supple and fluid quality of phrasing, and a cooly liquid sensuality of sound. An essential purchase for both those new to Debussy and Debussy enthusiasts."