This release offers a refreshingly varied selection of music by Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy, approximating the feel of a thoughtfully programmed concert. In this case, the program is built around works with an otherworldly (or "othertimely") feel, highlighting the two composers' talent for combining the exotic, the ancient, and the atmospheric, with the distinctly modern timbres and techniques of early twentieth century impressionism. In his late seventies at the time of recording, Pierre Boulez remains one of the best ...
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This release offers a refreshingly varied selection of music by Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy, approximating the feel of a thoughtfully programmed concert. In this case, the program is built around works with an otherworldly (or "othertimely") feel, highlighting the two composers' talent for combining the exotic, the ancient, and the atmospheric, with the distinctly modern timbres and techniques of early twentieth century impressionism. In his late seventies at the time of recording, Pierre Boulez remains one of the best conductors of this music, balancing the need for clarity and emotional restraint with the slight textural blur required to give these works their dreaminess. He also knows when to give in to the sheer sonic pleasures that both composers offer. The Cleveland Orchestra plays with an engagingly lean, yet warm sound, sounding nimbler than many large orchestras can manage in Ravel's Tombeau and Menuet antique. Anne-Sofie von Otter is a perfect choice for Ravel's Shéhérazade, singing with...
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