Search - Maurice Ravel, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra :: Ravel: Orchestral Works

A fine Introduction to Ravel and excellent value

J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 07/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is undoubtedly a superb collection of Ravel's orchestral works played by the London Symphony and the Boston Symphony Orchestras (only Daphis et Chloe is with Boston). The first thing I am struck by on repeated listenings is the splendid sound quality consistently throughout these recordings, always resonant and full, but also extremely well detailed. The playing is on the highest level with the possible exceptions of "Bolero" and "Valses nobles et sentimentales" which sound a bit less inspired to me than the rest of the collection. Not that they are poor interpretations, but rather they lack a certain sparkle that is present with the other works and hence my one star reduction. The keenest competition with this set comes from a similar two cd set with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony on Decca. The works represented on both sets are nearly identical (while Abbado includes the Sheherazade overture Dutoit includes the complete Ma Mere L'Oye), but Dutoit has a better "Bolero" and really sumptuous sound quality going for him. You could hardly go wrong with either set."

Vivid, vibrant Ravel, even though we're not quite speaking F

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 03/12/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a rising young conductor, Abbado hit a high water mark in the Seventies and Eighties with the LSO, and most of their recordings together are worth seeking out. For whatever reason, Abbado's music-making was more lively and involved then. DG also came through with vivid, clear digital sound. Those qualities are enough to recommend this birght, colorful Ravel collection, which sells very cheaply on the used market. The real question isn't one of quality but of nationality. Fanciers of Ravel's orchestral music are magnetized to Francophone conductors -- Martinon, Cluytens, Boulez, Monteux, and Ansermet, with honorable mention to Paray and Dutoit -- and with good reason. Hearing Ravel in French is like hearing Gershwin in American. by that standard, Abbado is gleaming, exact, vibrant, exciting, but decidedly "international" in tone rather than Gallic.



On his side it must be said that the LSO plays better than any French orchestra of the time (or now), and there's some dazzling solo work, not to mention real poise and finesse in the style of the playing overall. Bolero is played straight, which isn't the best idea for a piece that has become a wowzer. Pavane for a dead Princess is also a bit square, although it's lovely to hear Barry Tuckwell in place of a water French horn in the Parisian style. Rapsodie espagnole is fantastically played and recorded, but there are moments when Abbado's Spanish rhythms could use more flair. Other reviewers find the Valses nobles and sentimentales rather flat. Really? To me they are glittery and slithering, which means just right.



I am a fan of Abbado's complete Daphnis and Chloe, but instead of extracting the Suite no. 2 form it, DG has nicely provided an alternative, a version with the Boston Sym., famous as America's most French orchestra. They certainly play with great elan, bringing out the best in Abbado's conducting, which sounds very fresh and free. This is one of the set's highlights. Le tombeau de Couperin is lively, and thank the stars, they omitted the deadly dull Ma mere l'Oye. CD 2 ends with some oddments I don't care about, but the two major works, Alborado del gracioso and La valse, are gorgeously played and recorded, even if I would wish both to be a bit more crazed.



In all, I was impressed by so much that is vivid and special, I forgot that we were speaking French through a translator."

ABBADO EL MEJOR INTERPRETE DE RAVEL

Francisco J. Muñoz | Santa Cruz, Bolivia | 10/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"La crítica aquí es sencilla. Claudio Abbado es el mejor interprete de la música de Ravel de todos los tiempos, sin lugar a la menor duda. Y ojo que quien escribe conoce interpretaciones de estas obras por célebres directores como: Munch, Toscanini, Karajan, Solti, Maazel, Paray, Bernstein, Monteux, Reiner, Boulez y Ormandy.Abbado expresa todo lo sensual, mágico y sonoro de estas partituras. No hay donde perderse, comprar éste álbum es tener una de las mejores joyas de música orquestal que existe en el catálogo."