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Ernest Ansermet: French Music

Ernest Ansermet (Conductor), L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Orchestra) Format: Audio CD
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
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Editorial Reviews

Conductor Ernest Ansermet was a friend of Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky and championed their music throughout his long career. His Decca recordings with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande have achieved benchmark status for this repertoire. Ansermet's double good fortune was to be at the peak of his powers in the mid-1950's at the dawn of stereo recording and this 32CD set shows him in his prime, conducting French masterworks by Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Berlioz, Faure and many more.

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 5.24 x 3.03 inches; 1.82 Pounds
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Decca
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2016
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ October 16, 2012
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Decca
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DT2322E
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 32
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 65 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
65 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

John C.
5.0 out of 5 stars great set and bargain
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
It is great to get most memorable French orchestral (and some vocal) works of the 19th and
20th centuries in one set by a great conductor at such a low price. The orchestra is not one
of the world's reatest, but it is idiomatic as modern French orchestras don't tend to be.
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Peter Dietrich
5.0 out of 5 stars Great performances by Ernest Ansermet.
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
One of the previous reviewers was trying to find out comparison with the French repertory included in this compilation.He mentioned Charles Dutoit " a contemporary Champion of this music" but dismissed him " not really belong in the Ansermet category". Then the reviewer mentioned
Charles Munch would be a better candidate , but even he is not a match for Ernest's breath". Very good judgement and I agree with the previous reviewer completaly. I also agree that it is almost impossible to find another conductor who could master this broad repertory at this high level.
The only one conductor as far as I 'm concerned who could equal and in some works surpas Ansermet is the great Italian Maestro Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957). Although Toscanini never recorded that many works of French Music as Ernest Ansermet , but his output is substantial.
As an interpretative artist Toscanini conducting of the music by Claude Debussy(1862-1918) is on equal terms with Ansermet ,particularly in La Mer , Images Pt. 2 , Prelude de I' opres- midi d' une Faune,NocturneNo.1 and Iberia. In the music of Maurice Ravel(1875-1937) Ansermet is unsurpassed . Toscanini is also at his best and rivals Ansermet in the Daphniset Chloe,Suite No. 2 , and La Valse. In other Ravel works I like Rhapsodie Espagnole, Bolero and Daphnis et Chloe.Ansermet interpretations are authoritative with impeccable musicianship. Hector Berlioz
Symphonie Fantastique was one of his last recordings , but what a performance it is? Also superbly recorded are his overtures , Le Carnaval
Romain,Beatrice et Benedict, Benvenuto Cellini Op.23 and La Damnation de Faust (excerpts). I have many recordings of Cesar Frank(1822-1890) Symphony in D minor with excellent recordings by Leopold Stokowski and Pierre Monteux,but Ansermet 's recording is my favorite for many years. There are three works where in my opinion Toscanini surpasses Ansermet in intensity and precision : Ferdinand Herold (1791-1842
Zampa overture very popular work. Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896) Mignon overture, and Paul Dukas ( 1865-1935) L' apprenti sorcier.Ansermet
Was always known as a great conductor of Ballet Music . His complete recording of Leo Delibes (1836-1891) Coppelia is quite magical, but his
Other Ballet Sylvia is only recorded as a Suite. In Georges Bizet's music ,Ansermet is again in his element , but has competition in other conductors , particularly Sir Thomas Beecham and Leopold Stokowski .the later in Carmen Suites and L' Arlesiene Suite, but despite the great competition , Ansermet equal's them both in intensity and musicianship. In the overtures by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) Orphee aux enfers
And La Belle Helene. Daniel Auber ( 1782- 1871) Le Domino noir overture and Fra Diavolo withEmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894)! Espana Rhapsodie ,Ansermet performances are very exciting with almost no competition at all. Of the music by Edouard Lalo ( 1823-1892 I heard only
The Symphonie Espagnole,Op.21, performed by violinist Ruggiero Ricci. And Ernest Ansermet conducting. Majority of these works by Gabriel Faure, Albert Roussel, Arthur Honegger , Alberic Magnard (1865-1914) whose Symphony No.3 was among Ansermet last recordings and Frank Martin ,I own for long time on LP's. Almost all of these recordings are excellent , but the sound might differ in some. The earliest recordings dates from 1952 which includes the first recording of Pelleas ea Melisande and Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Sarms (1835-1921). The remaining recordings were made in thr mid- fifties and sixties I excellent stereo sound. It is difficult to believe that the L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is not recognized as one of the Great Orchestras in the world ,and yet they could mastered so many magnificent recordings with their Maestro on the podium conductor Ernest Ansermet ,and despite all odds agains them they
Provide for us magnificent Set of Russian Music and this excellent compilation. In conclusion I recommend this magnificent recordings to every music lover regardless of his or hers background and taste.
14 people found this helpful
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Alan Majeska
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful recordings of Ernest Ansermet/Orchestre de la Suisse Romande from 1954-1967.
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2022
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These recordings of Ernest Ansermet/Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
(Decca, 1954-67) are the stereo recordings this conductor/orchestra made of works by Debussy, Ravel, Berlioz, Bizet, Franck, Magnard, Saint Saens, Lalo, Faure, Offenbach,
Thomas, Herold, Auber and represent a substantial portion of this conductor’s recordings. I am very thankful to have this 32 CD set, and very grateful to the merchant who sold it to me.

I have been enjoying this great musical feast and if the Suisse Romande isn’t the absolute last word in polished playing: their first oboe and solo horn at the time aren’t as good as say New York or Philadelphia in 1960, for example - they play with spirit and elan, appropriate for French music.

I believe these Ansermet/Suisse Romande Decca recordings are also to be released as part of a larger Ansermet edition in late April 2022, encompassing not only these French composers, but Ansermet’s Beethoven and Brahms Symphonies, Haydn’s “Paris” Symphonies and works of Rimsky Korsakov,
Glinka, Mussorgsky, Borodin, Stravinsky and Prokofiev.
2 people found this helpful
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Peter Schiefelbein
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2019
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The proliferation of cheap boxed sets has been a wonderful thing. I have been able to hear the complete recordings of numerous older conductors whose work I could not afford in the past. In the process I have learned that there is no such thing as a "best" recording, but that there are pieces so rich that they demand a variety of great conductors to bring out the various facets of the composers' genius. That said, this journey has been one of the most delightful. Whatever shortcomings L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande may have had are more than overcome by the probing and revelatory insights Ansermet brings to this music. Over-familiar works spoke in new and fascinating ways, while other works I had dismissed as of lesser quality suddenly shone with unanticipated luster. Add to this great performances of pieces I had only heard of made this set one of the best purchases I have ever made. I will never think of hunting on Sunday again after hearing Ansermet's "Le Chasseur Maudit", and Lalo's "Rhapsodie Norvegienne" is now a favorite. Sound quality is the best Decca could give in those years, and Ansermet comes as close to combining spontaneity and perfection as anyone I have ever heard. You need this set.
10 people found this helpful
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Gengler
5.0 out of 5 stars Remastered? I think so!
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2019
While there is a paucity of information on these recordings included in the booklet, a sonic comparison with the earlier Decca Legends Box (as well with my copy of Honegger's Le Roi David) suggests that these discs have been remastered. And extremely well at that. The Honegger Roi David was almost unlistenable in its previous incarnation on the Decca ADRM recording. But the recording on this set is extraordinary in its clarity, dynamic range, and minimal remastering digital glare. These are treasurable recordings that are historic in the best sense of the word, and highly recommended!
8 people found this helpful
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D
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent compendium of French music
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2020
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Sound quality - excellent. Packaging is minimal. Album notes are totally in French, including the synopsis after the listing of CDs and tracks. Great value.
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pruellus
5.0 out of 5 stars Italian Decca’s quality control sucks!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2019
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This could potentially be one of the better bargains on site. Ansermet was a conductor who dominated the early LP catalogue and who specialised in French (and Russian) music. Whilst not known for his humanity and probably an anti Semite to boot he managed to persuade the second class L’orchestra de la Suisse Romande to give performances on record which were highly creditable. And Decca allowed him the benefit of first class engineers to maximise their effect.
Unfortunately however was responsible for remastering this set manages to undo much of their good work. For starters there are clicks galore before many of the tracks managing to destroy the mood. Further many of the CDs tend to distort on my Quad Elite mid range player at about the fifty minute mark. To be fair on an old boom box this isn’t as noticeable. Having read other reviews I don’t think my set is unique and therefor seeking a replacement isn’t going to resolve matters. And the price I paid means that even with the problem I have a good bargain. And as English Decca is normally first class I must assume that this is the fault of their Italian colleagues.
As to the set itself I have particularly enjoyed the Debussy, the Bizet and the Ravel. Ansermet seems better in shorter movements than in large scale ones. Not so much the Honneger or Franck. Sure the orchestra is no Berlin Philharmonic but sometime human fragility enhances the effect of the music. A pity that the overtures and other shorter pieces seem scattered throughout the set without much rhyme or reason other than to ensure that most CDs exceed the 70 minute mark whereas it would have been musically more satisfying for them to have been gathered together. But the 32 cd set is very reasonably priced.
It need hardly need saying that my grading takes little notice of the quality control. If that were taken into account a grading of one would be more appropriate.
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杉本達矢
5.0 out of 5 stars 素晴らしい演奏！
Reviewed in Japan on June 18, 2021
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素晴らしい演奏の数々。
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Moonfish
5.0 out of 5 stars Ansermet - Ein Sublime Soundscape von Französisch Musik
Reviewed in Germany on February 20, 2014
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Dieses Set ist eine hervorragende Einführung in den beiden Französisch Komponisten und die Kunst des Ansermet als Dirigent mit dem L' Orchestre de la Suisse Romande . Sammler werden wohl Freude an füllt Löcher in den Abschnitten Ansermet ihren Regalen wie seine Aufnahmen sind etwas hart gewesen, in letzter Zeit zugreifen. Mein eigenes Interesse in Ansermet ( scheinbar eine mythische Figur in Form einer Leiter) und der Wunsch, mehr Zeit in der Französisch Geräuschkulisse verbringen machte es relativ einfach, in dieser Reihe zu investieren. Neben der bescheidenen Kosten von rund zwei Euro pro Scheibe eine kleine Gebühr für die Teilnahme an diesem Bereich der Musik. Die Aufnahmen sind meist von Mitte der 1950er bis Anfang der 1960er Jahre . Der Sound ist sehr gut und ich habe keine Beschwerden so weit. Ich fand es seltsam, dass der Satz auch zwei Versionen von Debussys Oper " Pelleas et Mellisande ' , aber ich vermute, Decca muss einen guten Grund gehabt haben . Die meisten der 32 Scheiben sind von Komponisten wie Debussy , Ravel, Bizet, Berlioz und Saint-Saens (etwa 20 der 32 Scheiben ) dominiert. Allerdings enthalten die restlichen 12 Scheiben eine Reihe von Werken von Lalo, Chabrier, Faure, Chausson, Roussel, Honneger , Magnard , Martin , Arnold , Offenbach, Dukas und Delibes . Dieser Satz von Decca - Italien ist auf jeden Fall eine wunderbare Gelegenheit, Stücke, die man normalerweise nicht zu erwerben wäre zu erkunden. Ich bin relativ neu in Französisch Musik ( über Debussy und Ravel ) , so ist dies eine Goldgrube für mich in Bezug auf die Exposition auf ungewöhnliche Stücke sowie neue Komponisten. Zum Beispiel - ich sehr genossen Debussys " Le martyre de Saint Sebastian " - eine Arbeit, die ich vorher noch nie begegnet , aber jetzt hörte mit großem Interesse. Es ist wahrscheinlich, dass man zusätzliche Aufnahmen von Musik ein wirklich genießt, zu erwerben, aber ein Satz wie dieser kann zu einem erschwinglichen erste Begegnung . Außerdem wollte ich immer mehr zu Ansermet die Interpretationen von Ravel und Debussy zu hören. Ich brauchte einige Zeit , um den Inhalt unter Liste , wie ich hatte eine schwierige Zeit der Suche spezifischen Disc- Informationen auf dem Internet . Ich hoffe, dass können Sie ein Gefühl für die spezifischen Inhalte in diesem Feld zu erhalten. Meine Erfahrung ist, dass Sätze wie dieser geht entweder im Preis sehr schnell oder ( noch schlimmer) vergriffen geht . Es scheint ein temporäres Problem von Decca Italien ( genau wie der aktuelle Richter -Box) , so greifen sie , solange du kannst . Sehr zu empfehlen !

BOX DETAILS: Die Box ist eine große Klapphandy aus stabilem Karton. Jede CD ist in einer Kartonhülse ( alle gleich auf der Titelseite neben der Angabe der Anzahl der cd) eingesetzt . Die Rückseite jeder Hülle enthält cd # , Komponist , Namen der Stücke sowie Künstler ( keine separate Spur Indikatoren noch Zeitstempel ) . Die Oberfläche jedes cd cd # zeigt , sowie die Namen der Komponisten für jede Scheibe ( nichts anderes in Bezug auf die Informations ] . Keine Texte oder Libretti enthalten sind. Die Broschüre ( 36pgs ) die Inhalte auf jeder CD mit Tracks, mal , Künstler , Ensembles und Aufnahmedaten sowie eine 5 pg Essay über Ansermet von Massimo Rolando Zegna in Englisch und Italienisch geschrieben.

INHALT : ( Das Orchester in all den Aufnahmen ist L' Orchestre de la Suisse Romande , wenn nicht anders angegeben - nur cd 13 hat eine andere Orchester)

CD 1
DEBUSSY
Printemps [1957]
Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (1957) [Pepin - flute]
Nocturnes [1957] [Choeurs de la Suisse Romande]
La Mer [1964]
Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestra [1964] (Gugholz - clarinet]

CD 2
DEBUSSY
Images pour orchestra [1961]
Jeux [1958]
Danse [1958]

CD 3
DEBUSSY
Le Martyre de Saint Sebastian [1954]
(Danco/ Waugh/ Montmollin/ Union Chorale de La Tour-de-Peilz)
Six Epigraphes Antiques [1953]
Marche Ecossaise [1955]

CD 4
DEBUSSY
La Boite a joujoux (1957)
Petite Suite (1961)
RAVEL
Pavane pour une infant defunte (1961)
Valses nobles et sentimentales (1960)
Alborada del gracioso (1960)

CD 5-6
DEBUSSY
Pelleas et Melisande (1952)
(Danco /Mollet /Rehfuss /Vessieres /Bouvier /Wend /Olsen)

CD 7-8
DEBUSSY
Pelleas et Melisande (1964))
(Spoorenberg/ Maurane/ London /Hoekman /Veasey /Bredy /Shirley-Quirk /Kubrack)

CD 9
RAVEL
Rapsodie espagnole (1957)
La Valse (1963)
Tzigane, rapsodie de concert (1959) [Ricci]
Bolero (1963)
DEBUSSY
Clair de lune

CD 10
RAVEL
Daphnis et Chloe (1965)
(Choeurs de la Radio Romande Lausanne/ Charlet)
Ma mere l'oye, suite (1957)

CD 11
RAVEL
Piano concerto in D Major for the left hand (1953) (Blancard - piano)
Piano concerto in G major (1953) (Blancard - piano)
Daphnis et Chloe (1960) - suite no 2
SAINT-SAENS
Danse macabre (1952)

CD 12
RAVEL
L'enfant et les sortileges (1954)
(Wend/ Montmollin/ Touraine/ Migliette/ Danco/ Bise/ Bobillier/ Cuenod/ Mollet/ Lovano)
Sheherazade (1955) (Pepin -flute)
Deux melodies hebraiques (1955)
Trois poems de Stephane Mallarme (1955) (Danco - soprano)

CD13
RAVEL
L'heure espagnole (1953)
(Danco/ Derenne/ Hamel/ Rehfuss/ Vessieres)
Bolero (1954) [Paris Conservatoire Orchestra]
La valse (1953) [Paris Conservatoire Orchestra]

CD14
BERLIOZ
Symphonie fantastique (1967)
Le Corsaire (1967)
Le Carnaval romain (1964)
Beatrice et Benedict - ouverture (1967)

CD 15
SAINT-SAENS
Symphony No 3 (1962) (Segon - organ)
BERLIOZ
Le damnation de Faust (1964)
Benvenuto Cellini - Ouverture (1964)
SAINT-SAENS
Le Rouet d'Omphale (1962)

CD 16
BERLIOZ
Les nuits d'ete (1963) (Crespin - soprano)
Symphony fantastique (rehearsal - 1967)

CD 17
FRANCK
Symphony in D minor (1961)
Le chasseur maudit (1961)
Les Eolides (1967)

CD 18
BIZET
Carmen - suite (1958)
L'Arlesienne (1958)
Patrie - ouverture (1954)

CD 19
BIZET
Symphony in C major (1960)
Jeux d'enfants (1960)
La jolle fille de Perth -suite (1960)
OFFENBACH
Orphee aux enfers - ouverture (1960)
La belle Helene - ouverture (1960)
HEROLD
Zampa - ouverture (1960)

CD 20
DELIBES
Coppelia - ballet (1957)

CD 21
DELIBES
Coppelia - continued
Sylvia - suite (1959)

CD 22
LALO
Namouna (1966) [Cuvit - trumpet/ Pepin - flute]
Divertissement (1966)
Rapsodie norvegienne (1966)
Scherzo pour orchestra (1966)
Le Roi d'Ys (1960)

CD 23
LALO
Symphonie espagnole (1959) [Ricci - violin]
CHABRIER
Habanera (1955)
FAURE
Requiem (1955)
(Danco/Souzay/Schmidt (organ)/ L'Union Chorale de la Tour de Peilz/ Mermoud)

CD 24
CHABRIER
Espana (1964)
Suite pastorale (1964)
Joyeuse marche (1964)
Danse slave (1964)
Fete polonaise (1964)
THOMAS
Mignon - ouverture (1960)
Raymond - ouverture (1960)
AUBER
Le domino noir - ouverture (1960)
Fra Diavolo - ouverture (1960)

CD 25
CHAUSSON
Symphony in B flat (1967)
FAURE
Pelleas et Melisande - suite (1962)
Penelope - prelude (1962)
Masques et bergmasques - suite (1962)

CD 26
ROUSSEL
Symphony No 3 in G minor (1956)
Symphony No 4 in A major (1956)
Le festin de l'araignee (1954)

CD 27
HONEGGER
Une cantata de Noel (1961)
(Mollet/ Choeur des Jeunes Lausanne/ Choeur de Radio Lausanne/ Le Petit Choeur du College de Villamont)
Symphony No 2 (1961)
ROUSSEL
Petite suite pour orchestra (1954)

CD 28
HONEGGER
Symphony No 3 ("Symphonie liturgique") (1968)
Symphony No 4 ("Deliciae Basilienses") (1968)

CD 29
HONEGGER
Pacific 231 (1963)
DUKAS
L'apprenti sorcier (1958)
La Peri (1963)
MAGNARD
Symphony No 3 in B flat minor (1968)

CD 30
HONEGGER
Le Roi David (1956)
(Danco/ Montmollin/ Martin/ Hamer/ Audel/ Choeur des Jeunes de l'Eglise National Vaudoise)

CD 31
MARTIN
Concerto for 7 wind instruments, timpani, percussion and string orchestra (1961)
Etudes for string orchestra (1961)
Petite symphonie concertante (1951)
(Jamet - harp/ Vaucher-Clerc - harpsichord/ Rosslaud - piano)

CD 32
MARTIN
Concerto for violin and orchestra (1955) (Schneiderhan - violin)
In terra pax (1963)
(Buckel/ Hoffgen/ Haefliger/ Mollet/ Stampfli/ Union Chorale & Choeur des Dames de Lausanne/ Mermoud)
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SimoTocca
5.0 out of 5 stars Una vera e propria opera meritoria da parte dalla Universal Italiana
Reviewed in Italy on December 26, 2013
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Bel cofanetto dedicato ad una delle personalità musicali più interessanti del '900, il direttore svizzero Ansermet, con l"orchestra da lui fondata, l'orchestre della Suisse Romande (peraltro Ansermet fu anche il fondatore del festival di Lucerna..!!).
Ernest Ansermet, già professore di matematica, era anche un pensatore e un filosofo, oltre che musicista e direttore d'orchestra, apprezzato sia dai musicisti a lui contemporanei, quali Stravinsky, Ravel, Prokovieff, sia dai colleghi direttori d'orchestra (Toscanini lo invitò a dirigere la sua NBC, un onore che riservava a pochi..!).
E il direttor svizzero era anche un "campione" nel perorare ed eseguire la musica "moderna" degli autori sopracitati, con alcune "prime" a suo esclusivo appannaggio.
E co che questi 32 CD, tutti dedicati alla musica francese, sono una fonte preziosa di informazioni per tutti gli amanti della musica classica che come me non avevano potuto accedere alle registrazioni del maestro svizzero perchè da anni fuori dal commercio.
Le registrazioni sono quasi tutte degli anni '50-'60 e quindi, oltre ad essercene diverse Monofoniche, ce ne sono anche diverse che tecnicamente lasciano un pò a desiderare, anche se poi se ne ascoltano alcune addirittura strepitose per qualità tecnica di incisione. Questa discontinuità probabilmente è legata alla rapida evoluzione delle tecniche di registrazione, proprio in quegli anni.
Ma sono testimonianze imperdibili: una mente geniale, innamorata della musica francese e russa, che esegue al meglio musiche composte da pochi anni, così come grandi classici (la Fantastica di Berlioz, o la sinfonia di Bizet per esempio).
È un cofanetto, a dire il vero, che probabilmente non è molto "user friendly" per i non intenditori, nel senso che sembra fatto apposta e dedicato agli appassionati più smaliziati e più esperti proprio per il repertorio molto "monografico", la musica francese prevalentemente del '900, con autori anche minori o com lavori comunque non molto noti al grande pubblico (per la lista completa delle opere contenute basta cliccare sull'immagine del box).
Purtuttavia è, considerando il prezzo abbordabile, un invito per tutti per iniziare a conoscere modi diversi di concepire e dirigere una stessa opera musicale, e il modo di Ansermet di dirigere è sicuramente assai lontano da quanto ci hanno abituato i mostri sacri della bacchetta, del passato e del presente. E proprio per la sua peculiarità dovrebbe essere conosciuto e apprezzato da un pubblico più basto possibile.
Pratico il cofanetto in cartone rinforzato e ben fatto il libretto accluso, con note anche in Italiano.
Buon ascolto a tutti...
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SimoTocca
5.0 out of 5 stars Una vera e propria opera meritoria da parte dalla Universal Italiana
Reviewed in Italy on December 26, 2013
Bel cofanetto dedicato ad una delle personalità musicali più interessanti del '900, il direttore svizzero Ansermet, con l"orchestra da lui fondata, l'orchestre della Suisse Romande (peraltro Ansermet fu anche il fondatore del festival di Lucerna..!!).
Ernest Ansermet, già professore di matematica, era anche un pensatore e un filosofo, oltre che musicista e direttore d'orchestra, apprezzato sia dai musicisti a lui contemporanei, quali Stravinsky, Ravel, Prokovieff, sia dai colleghi direttori d'orchestra (Toscanini lo invitò a dirigere la sua NBC, un onore che riservava a pochi..!).
E il direttor svizzero era anche un "campione" nel perorare ed eseguire la musica "moderna" degli autori sopracitati, con alcune "prime" a suo esclusivo appannaggio.
E co che questi 32 CD, tutti dedicati alla musica francese, sono una fonte preziosa di informazioni per tutti gli amanti della musica classica che come me non avevano potuto accedere alle registrazioni del maestro svizzero perchè da anni fuori dal commercio.
Le registrazioni sono quasi tutte degli anni '50-'60 e quindi, oltre ad essercene diverse Monofoniche, ce ne sono anche diverse che tecnicamente lasciano un pò a desiderare, anche se poi se ne ascoltano alcune addirittura strepitose per qualità tecnica di incisione. Questa discontinuità probabilmente è legata alla rapida evoluzione delle tecniche di registrazione, proprio in quegli anni.
Ma sono testimonianze imperdibili: una mente geniale, innamorata della musica francese e russa, che esegue al meglio musiche composte da pochi anni, così come grandi classici (la Fantastica di Berlioz, o la sinfonia di Bizet per esempio).
È un cofanetto, a dire il vero, che probabilmente non è molto "user friendly" per i non intenditori, nel senso che sembra fatto apposta e dedicato agli appassionati più smaliziati e più esperti proprio per il repertorio molto "monografico", la musica francese prevalentemente del '900, con autori anche minori o com lavori comunque non molto noti al grande pubblico (per la lista completa delle opere contenute basta cliccare sull'immagine del box).
Purtuttavia è, considerando il prezzo abbordabile, un invito per tutti per iniziare a conoscere modi diversi di concepire e dirigere una stessa opera musicale, e il modo di Ansermet di dirigere è sicuramente assai lontano da quanto ci hanno abituato i mostri sacri della bacchetta, del passato e del presente. E proprio per la sua peculiarità dovrebbe essere conosciuto e apprezzato da un pubblico più basto possibile.
Pratico il cofanetto in cartone rinforzato e ben fatto il libretto accluso, con note anche in Italiano.
Buon ascolto a tutti...
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