Todd A
pfm Member
D'Indy
Whilst browsing a local used LP hut, I stumbled upon a CBS recording by Robert Casadesus that I didn’t have, which meant that I simply had to have it. The LP, a low-price CBS Odyssey reissue of a late 50s recording of Vincent D’Indy’s Symphony on a French Mountain Air for Piano and Orchestra, finds Casadesus partnered with Eugene Ormandy and his Philadelphia Orchestra. I’m not sure why this recording didn’t make it into the complete Casadesus Edition, because it is well played, sounds superb, and is an enjoyable piece.
How is it enjoyable? Well, it has some decidedly French traits that tickle the ear. Much of the time it’s light and swift. The wind writing, especially for flute and oboe, is fun and piquant. There’s a somewhat breezy feel to much of the music. And it usually sounds elegant and beautiful. The crescendos are sufficiently weighty and grand, given the mountain motif, and the piece never tips into orchestral excess. The only real weakness for me is the somewhat trite ending. The piano part is largely integrated into the music rather than being front and center as in a concerto, but even so there some fine moments for the soloist to shine. Given the soloist involved, the shine is bright indeed. In some ways the music of Joseph Canteloube came to mind, meaning, I assume, that Canteloube knew his D’Indy. I can’t quite say that this long titled work is a relatively forgotten major masterpiece, but it is a very enjoyable work, and one I’ll spin every once in a while.
Though the LP is 20-30 years old, sound is superb. Casadesus sounds fuller and richer than he does on CD, while retaining his litheness and elegance. The Philadelphia strings sound absolutely gorgeous. Only the sound of the brass is somewhat disappointing.
The other work on the LP is Cesar Franck’s Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra. Since I have that work on CD, I decided to do an A-B comparison to hear which one sounds better. The LP does, and rather handily. Ironically, the CD is noisier than the LP. This is due to the analog hiss, which is muffled on LP. I suppose this means that the CD is more accurate, but what it translates to is a harder-edged, sharp, and at times unpleasant sound. Casadesus’ piano playing sounds more metallic, and the orchestral strings harsher. The brass is cleaner, and the low bass is tighter on the CD, but the overall effect is much less pleasant to listen to, and certainly sounds no more like real music. The only clear advantage the CD has is in dynamic range. And this is comparing the sound to a LP budget pressing. I wonder what an original pressing might sound like. Perhaps better, perhaps the same, perhaps worse, who knows? Anyway, the $3 and change I paid for the LP was money well spent.
Whilst browsing a local used LP hut, I stumbled upon a CBS recording by Robert Casadesus that I didn’t have, which meant that I simply had to have it. The LP, a low-price CBS Odyssey reissue of a late 50s recording of Vincent D’Indy’s Symphony on a French Mountain Air for Piano and Orchestra, finds Casadesus partnered with Eugene Ormandy and his Philadelphia Orchestra. I’m not sure why this recording didn’t make it into the complete Casadesus Edition, because it is well played, sounds superb, and is an enjoyable piece.
How is it enjoyable? Well, it has some decidedly French traits that tickle the ear. Much of the time it’s light and swift. The wind writing, especially for flute and oboe, is fun and piquant. There’s a somewhat breezy feel to much of the music. And it usually sounds elegant and beautiful. The crescendos are sufficiently weighty and grand, given the mountain motif, and the piece never tips into orchestral excess. The only real weakness for me is the somewhat trite ending. The piano part is largely integrated into the music rather than being front and center as in a concerto, but even so there some fine moments for the soloist to shine. Given the soloist involved, the shine is bright indeed. In some ways the music of Joseph Canteloube came to mind, meaning, I assume, that Canteloube knew his D’Indy. I can’t quite say that this long titled work is a relatively forgotten major masterpiece, but it is a very enjoyable work, and one I’ll spin every once in a while.
Though the LP is 20-30 years old, sound is superb. Casadesus sounds fuller and richer than he does on CD, while retaining his litheness and elegance. The Philadelphia strings sound absolutely gorgeous. Only the sound of the brass is somewhat disappointing.
The other work on the LP is Cesar Franck’s Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra. Since I have that work on CD, I decided to do an A-B comparison to hear which one sounds better. The LP does, and rather handily. Ironically, the CD is noisier than the LP. This is due to the analog hiss, which is muffled on LP. I suppose this means that the CD is more accurate, but what it translates to is a harder-edged, sharp, and at times unpleasant sound. Casadesus’ piano playing sounds more metallic, and the orchestral strings harsher. The brass is cleaner, and the low bass is tighter on the CD, but the overall effect is much less pleasant to listen to, and certainly sounds no more like real music. The only clear advantage the CD has is in dynamic range. And this is comparing the sound to a LP budget pressing. I wonder what an original pressing might sound like. Perhaps better, perhaps the same, perhaps worse, who knows? Anyway, the $3 and change I paid for the LP was money well spent.