Search - Maurice Ravel, Sir John Barbirolli, Halle Orchestra :: Ravel's Bolero

Reasonable Ravel

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My first purchase on the Bescol label came a few years back when I picked up Josef Krips' excellent Beethoven Symphony Cycle. Since then I have discovered that the majority of this company's releases mirror the titles in the now out-of-print Everest line, but occasionally there is one that is not just a budget-line copy-cat of an Everest CD. Case in point, this Ravel disc featuring Sir John Barbirolli conducting his beloved Halle Orchestra. Those familiar with my reviews on Amazon know of my love for Glorious John, particularly his albums in EMI's "British Composers" series and his titles on the Dutton label. Unfortunately, this is not JB's finest hour. First this CD sounds horrible -- tinny throughout, and noticeably compressed and distorted at any and all climatic moments. Performance wise, some of the selections are duds as well. Bolero is taken at such a lifeless pace it's almost a caricature for the English lack of passion, and La Valse isn't much better. It's not that Sir John simply cannot conduct French fare -- I have a Debussy disc of his that I rather enjoy -- and the Daphnis et Chloe Suite and Rapsodie Espagnole readings are superior. Unfortunately all the brilliant stereo hi-fi moments are captured here in the quagmire of lo-fi. I'll round up to 4 stars because this is a conductor worth collecting and the price is hard to beat, but under no circumstances should you make this your first choice Ravel CD."