French Bonbons
Definitely a programme to cheer you up on a winter's day, beautifully performed by the BBC Philharmonic
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Charles-François Gounod, (Alexis-)Emmanuel Chabrier, Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, Aimé Maillart, (Louis Joseph) Ferdinand Hérold, (Charles Louis) Ambroise Thomas, Jacques Offenbach, Adolphe (Charles) Adam
Label: Chandos
Magazine Review Date: 3/2000
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 75
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CHAN9765
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Zampa, Movement: Overture |
(Louis Joseph) Ferdinand Hérold, Composer
(Louis Joseph) Ferdinand Hérold, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| Marche funèbre d'une marionette |
Charles-François Gounod, Composer
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Charles-François Gounod, Composer Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| Mignon, Movement: Overture |
(Charles Louis) Ambroise Thomas, Composer
(Charles Louis) Ambroise Thomas, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| Mignon, Movement: ~ |
(Charles Louis) Ambroise Thomas, Composer
(Charles Louis) Ambroise Thomas, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| (La) Vierge, Movement: Le dernier sommeil de la Vierge (Last Sleep of the |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| Si j'étais roi, 'If I were King', Movement: Overture |
Adolphe (Charles) Adam, Composer
Adolphe (Charles) Adam, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| Habanera |
(Alexis-)Emmanuel Chabrier, Composer
(Alexis-)Emmanuel Chabrier, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| (Le) Cheval de bronze, '(The) Bronze Horse', Movement: Overture |
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, Composer
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, Composer Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| (Les) Erinnyes, Movement: Tristesse du soir (mélodie-élégie) |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Peter Dixon, Cello Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| (La) Belle Hélène, 'Beautiful Helen', Movement: ~ |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Jacques Offenbach, Composer Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| Thaïs, Movement: Méditation |
Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Jules (Emile Frédéric) Massenet, Composer Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor Yuri Torchinsky, Violin |
| (Les) Dragons de Villars, Movement: Overture |
Aimé Maillart, Composer
Aimé Maillart, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| (Les) Contes d'Hoffmann, '(The) Tales of Hoffmann', Movement: Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour (Barcarolle) |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Jacques Offenbach, Composer Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
| Joyeuse marche |
(Alexis-)Emmanuel Chabrier, Composer
(Alexis-)Emmanuel Chabrier, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor |
Label: Naxos
Magazine Review Date: 3/2000
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 337
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 8 505147
Author: Ivan March
This splendid collection is a worthy successor to many nostalgically re-membered LPs by Paul Paray and others, and if I say the performance of La belle Helene Overture (a splendid concoction arranged by Haensch, including a charming waltz, a delicious oboe solo and a can-can at the end) can stand beside that of Martinon and the LPO on Decca (1/52 - nla) - which is very special indeed - that is the highest praise.
The concert opens in the bandstand with gusto and style; and after Herold's Zampa comes Gounod's whimsical littleMarche funebre d'une marionette, beloved of Alfred Hitchcock. The succession of wind (and harp) solos at the opening of Mignon is beautifully played (there is plenty of warm romantic feeling throughout the disc) and Adam's Si j'etais roi is delectably pointed, as is the exhilarating closing galop of Auber's Cheval de bronze. Maillart's grandiose, very French military piece is vigorously projected, Chabrier lilts, and the gentler evocations by Massenet make seductive interludes. But it is the overall zest one remembers. Tortelier doesn't push anything too hard, yet gives the rhythms plenty of lift, and his codas fizz nicely.
The BBC Philharmonic is on top form (the strings and brass both deserve accolades) and the Chandos recording is top-drawer, vivid, resonant and glowing. All in all, a programme to cheer you up on a bleak winter's day. Just try La belle Helene and you will be won over.'
The concert opens in the bandstand with gusto and style; and after Herold's Zampa comes Gounod's whimsical little
The BBC Philharmonic is on top form (the strings and brass both deserve accolades) and the Chandos recording is top-drawer, vivid, resonant and glowing. All in all, a programme to cheer you up on a bleak winter's day. Just try La belle Helene and you will be won over.'
French Bonbons
British Light Music
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