Ravel / Franck / Van Beinum,Eduard Ravel / Franck: Orchestral Works CD

A Franck rarity coupled with a trio of Ravel masterpieces: a valuable addition to the Eloquence series of newly remastered reissues devoted to Eduard van Beinum. Although the Dutch conductor was renowned as an exponent of Austro-German composers from Mozart to Mahler, Van Beinum was master of a wide palette of orchestral timbre which made him an ideal interpreter of French repertoire, and a worthy successor to Willem Mengelberg as music director of the Concertgebouw Orchestra: a post he held from 1945 until his early death 14 years later. Previous Eloquence releases of Van Beinum's Berlioz (4825569) and Debussy (4646362) are distinguished by their refined, idiomatic sound, which fits the music like a glove. Composed by C?sar Franck around the same time as his more frequently heard Symphony, Psych? is an extended tone-poem, not dissimilar in mood to the Daphnis et Chlo? ballet of Ravel and also requiring a chorus in it's complete form. Like most performances, this 1953 Decca recording omits the passages with chorus to make a 20-minute suite, satisfying on it's own terms, and played with notable sensitivity by the Concertgebouw. Coupled on it's first release with (of all things) the Seventh Symphony of Bruckner, Psych? is joined here by Franck's ever-popular concertante work for piano, the Variations symphoniques, in a 1943 recording with Geza Anda as soloist and originally issued by Deutsche Grammophon. One of the first post-war recordings made by Decca in the Concertgebouw is still a highlight of Van Beinum's discography: Ravel's Rapsodie espagnole. Thanks to the conductor's feeling for colour and fine sense of timing, this remains a flawless interpretation: no wonder that in May 1950 Gramophone described this recording, issued on two 78s, as an 'outstanding issue'. Twelve years after the Rapsodie espagnole the only other recordings of orchestral works by Ravel made under Van Beinum were of Bol?ro and La valse, first issued by Philips on a 10" LP - stunning and vivid performances, now available again in a brand-new digital remastering.

1. Cesar Franck: Psyche 2. Varitions Symphoniques 3. Maurice Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole* 4. Bolero 5. La Valse