A wonderful collection of Franck tone poems, most of them drawn from Daniel Barenboim’s now deleted recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and adding the wonderfully airborne Ansermet performance of ‘Les Eolides’. Try the sheer orchestral terror of ‘Le Chasseur Maudit’ (‘The Accursed Huntsman’) or the blazing brass of ‘Redemption’ for sonic thrills or revel in the extraordinary eroticism of ‘Psyche’ – these wonderful works and recordings are long overdue for exhumation.
CÉSAR FRANCK
Rédemption: Morceau symphonique roman
Nocturne pour contralto et orchestre roman*
Le Chasseur maudit: Poème symphonique roman
Psyché: Poème symphonique roman
Les Éolides: Poème symphonique roman**
Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano*
Orchestre de Paris
Daniel Barenboim
L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande**
Ernest Ansermet**
Recording producers: Günther Breest (Rédemption); Cord Garben (Nocturne, Chasseur, Psyché); John Mordler (Éolides)
Recording engineers: Klaus Scheibe (Rédemption, Nocturne, Chasseur, Psyché); James Lock (Éolides)
Recording locations: Notre Dame du Liban, February 1976 (Rédemption, Psyché), June 1976 (Nocturne, Chasseur); Victoria Hall, Geneva, January 1967 (Éolides)
Remastering: Emil Berliner Studios
‘Characterful and atmospheric performances … a thrilling Le Chausseur Maudit and translucent Les Eolides’ Limelight
‘Excellent performances … brightly coloured and beautifully realised’ ClassicsToday.com
‘An excellent compilation of Franckian gems. Very strongly recommended indeed’ MusicWeb