C. Debussy - Nocturnes - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Halle and Sir Mark Elder follow their previous highly acclaimed DeBussy albums, with a stunning orchestral collection including a world premiere recording. This collection features works from across the composer's career, from his early winning of the Prix de Rome, as a result of which he composed the delicate cantata La Demoiselle elue in 1887. Recorded following the highly acclaimed Proms performance and featuring stand-out soloists Anna Stephany and Sophie Bevan, hailed by reviewers. The enigmatic Nocturnes date from 1897-9 and show the composer at the height of his orchestral powers, in music that is highly evocative of mood and which displays deft instrumental writing. Mastery of instrumental writing is further evidenced in the technically demanding Premiere Rhapsodie, which calls upon the full range of emotions from the soloist; here the Halle's Principal Clarinet, Sergio Castello Lopez. The album features a world premiere recording of Colin Matthew's orchestration of the piano piece Les soirs illumines par l'ardeur du charbon, unknown until it's discovery in 2001. This arrangement follows Matthews' universally acclaimed orchestrations of the DeBussy Preludes.

Album Tracks 1. Libro I I. (... Danseuse de Delphes) 2. Libro I II. (... Voiles) 3. Libro I III. (... La Vente Dans la Plaine) 4. Libro I IV. (...'Les Sons Et Les Parfums Tournent Dans L'air Du Soir') 5. Libro I V. (... Les Collines D'anacapri) 6. Libro I VI. (... Des Pas Sur la Neige) 7. Libro I VII. (... Ce Qu'a Vu Le Vent D'ouest) 8. Libro I VIII. (... La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin) 9. Libro I IX. (... La Ser Interrompue) 10. Libro I X. (... La Cathedrale Engloutie) 11. Libro I XI. (... La Danse de Puck) 12. Libro I XII. (... Minstrels) 13. Libro II I. (... Brouillars) 14. Libro II II. (... Feuilles Mortes) 15. Libro II III. (... La Puerta Del Vino) 16. Libro II IV. (...'Les Fees Sont D'exquises Danseuse') 17. Libro II V. (... Bruyeres) 18. Libro II VI. (... General Lavine 'Eccentric') 19. Libro II VII. (... La Terrasse Des Audiences Du Clair de Lune) 20. Libro II VIII. (... Ondine) 21. Libro II IX. (... Hommage a Samuel Pickwick Esq.P.P.M.P.C.) 22. Libro II X. (... Canope) 23. Libro II XI. (... Les Tierces Alternees) 24. Libro II XII. (... Feux D'artifices)

Claude Debussy was profoundly permeated by his French roots. However, his Ballad demonstrates that Russian influences from Tchaikovsky also played an important role in his compositions. In works such as the Danse bohemian and the Arabesques, the fusion of both French and Russian inspiration comes together for a unique aural experience. Album Tracks 1. No. 1 in E Major 2. No. 2 in G Major 3. Danse Bohemienne 4. Ballade 5. Danse, Tarantelle Styrienne 6. Nocturne 7. No. 1. Danseuses de Delphes 8. No. 2. Voiles 9. No. 3. Le Vent Dans la Plaine 10. No. 4. Les Sons Et Les Parfums Tournent Dans L'air Du Soir 11. No. 5. Les Collines D'anacapri 12. No. 6. Des Pas Sur la Neige 13. No. 7. Ce Qu'a Vu Le Vent D'ouest 14. No. 8. La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin 15. No. 9. La Serenade Interrompue 16. No. 10. La Cathedrale Engloutie 17. No. 11. La Danse de Puck 18. No. 12. Minstrels