From Haitink comes another marvellous Debussy CD to put alongside his much praised coupling of Jeux and Nocturnes (Philips CD 400 023-2PH, 6/83). Just as with that issue, the late 1970s recirdings, which were among the finest of the analogue era, have been superbly transferred on to CD. Nothing has been lost: there is no added astringency, yet textures are cleaner. The orchestral imagery remains very real in perspective within the glowing Amsterdam acoustics. One's only question mark is the separation of Iberia from Haitink's complete Images (only available at the moment on LP), one of his finest records. But if Iberia alone satisfied, this is a superb version, with Haitink making a very personal response to its atmosphere: he is more positive in his evocation of ''Les parfums de la nuit'' than some conductors (less latin in feeling, perhaps) but the orchestral sounds are gorgeous and one's ears pick up at the subtle way he begins ''Le matin d'un jour de fete''. The control of the langurous climax of the Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune is similarly positive and few performances have more romantic weight (Ashkenazy's on Decca pales beside it), and the orchestral playing at the beginning and end of the piece is very beautiful.
About La mer there can be no argument. This is worthy to stand alongside Karajan's earlier LP version made for DG in the previous decade. In particular ''Jeux de vagues'' has a wonderful freshness; the ebb and flow of the rhythm and the changes of light—the strings are quite radiant at times—are helped by the added transparency of the sound: the refinement of detail is remarkable. The finale is exciting in a direct way, but it is the tensions under the surface that make the performance so memorable: Haitink and his players catch the deceptive, almost sensual majesty of the vast expanse of water, but there is an underlying feeling of unease, of human awareness of the tempestuous fury that is waiting to be unleashed in Debussy's climax. I find this version of La mer the most satisfying yet available on CD, although if you want a coupling with the Nocturnes Previn's EMI disc remains very impressive. For those that care about such things, in La mer Haitink restores the brief fanfares that the composer removed eight bars before fig. 60 and gives them to the horns.'