The life of Charles Munch mirrors the changing face of Europe during the half-century from 1890 to 1940. A brilliant concert violinist, he became one of the greatest French conductors of his era - first in Paris in the 1930s and 1940s and then, after the War, in the United States, where he was chief conductor of the Boston Symphony in succession to Serge Koussevitsky from 1949-1962. On his retirement from Boston, he returned to Europe where he founded the Orchestre de Paris. Munch’s repertoire was very wide, ranging from the established classical repertoire to world premieres of new music, but it was upon French music that his international reputation was founded. In this rare selection of music by his compatriots, we can hear for ourselves the truth of that claim. The three composers represented - Debussy, Ravel and Roussel - were contemporaries of each other and of Munch himself, which gives his interpretations a unique insight. The sound has been refurbished brilliantly.
"This is another splendid release in the fast expanding series of historical reissues coming from the Guild label. Charles Munch has a sizeable discography but these intensity-filled live performances from 1954 show his penchant and flair for the music of his homeland. Debussy’s ‘Iberia’ is filled with that magic and rural charm so typical of this composer whilst Ravel’s ‘Le Tombeau’ is imbued with solemnity, mystery and a touch of Gallic romance that is well nigh ideal for this enigmatic work. Finally we have a rip-roaring account of Roussel’s ‘Bacchus et Ariane’, the second suite in particular which moves along at a hell of a pace and which has the NBC players at the peak of their impeccable virtuosity. These are well nigh definitive performances of these works recorded in rather fine sound so if you’re a Munch fan, this will certainly appeal."
Gerald Fenech
" ...A lovely disc"
