Great Conductors of The 20th Century Vol 22- Charles Munch

Great Conductors of The 20th Century Vol 22- Charles Munch
Orchestral | Eac, flac, cue | log, scans | 2 CD, 825 MB

February 11, 2003 | EMI | RapidShare

Charles Munch is remembered by American collectors for the records that he made with the Boston Symphony Orchestra between approximately 1951 and 1962. His Bostonian Berlioz, Debussy, and Ravel still maintain their hold on many allegiances. (For example, in my opinion, no one has surpassed his Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture.) The present collection reminds listeners that he made many fine records in Europe both before and after his years in Boston, right up until his death in 1968.

Munch is commonly referred to as a quintessential French conductor, but he was born a German citizen in Strasbourg in 1891. (At that time, the Alsace-Lorraine region still was under German control.) He spent much of his early career studying violin in Paris. However, he also served as concertmaster in Leipzig under both Bruno Walter and Wilhelm Furtwängler. A late bloomer on the podium, he was already in his 40s when he made his conducting debut in Paris. His interpretations are often exciting and spontaneous – Munch was seldom the same twice - yet not lacking in discipline and attention to detail.

This collection of studio recordings contains much to enjoy. His "Choral" Symphony from 1958 is wonderfully masculine and propulsive, and were the singing in the finale a little better, it would be a first choice. The Saint-Saëns overture is an appealing rarity, recorded at one of Munch's first sessions in Boston. The Martinů reminds us that Munch was a quiet advocate for modern music; this underrepresented work was commissioned for the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 75th anniversary, and Munch's recording – difficult to find until now – remains the best. The Bizet, recorded as late as 1966, is brilliant yet warm. The Prokofieff excerpts are less successful, and the Mendelssohn, though brilliantly played, doesn't really work when it is played by a full orchestra.--Raymond Tuttle

CD Content

# La princesse jaune, opera (opéra-comique) in 1 act, Op. 30 Overture
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Symphony No. 9 in D minor ("Choral"), Op. 125
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
with Giorgio Tozzi, David Poleri, Maureen Forrester, Leontyne Price
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Le Corsaire, overture for orchestra, H. 101 (Op. 21)
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Octet for strings in E flat major, Op. 20 3. Scherzo. Allegro leggierissimo
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Symphony in C major
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by L'Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Symphony No. 6 ("Fantaisies symphoniques"), H. 343
Composed by Bohuslav Martinu
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 1 for orchestra, Op. 64 bis No. 8. Death of Tybalt
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2 for orchestra, Op. 64 ter No. 1. The Montagues and Capulets
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2 for orchestra, Op. 64 ter No. 4. Dance
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Charles Munch

# Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2 for orchestra, Op. 64 ter No. 5. Romeo and Juliet before parting
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Charles Munch