Espana/Pastorale Ste/Fete Polo

Paray Throws out an "Espana" that makes the roof shake! "Espana" is by far one of my Favorite pieces of music ever written and to know that Paray and the DSO have given it their Personal and Intense Treatment is as Martha Stewart would say, "A Good Thing!" the Flavour of this "Espana" has NEVER Been more Spanish, too many Conductors see this as a vision of Spain through French Musical Ideals, which essentialy it IS, but still it is a vision of SPAIN, Not France. As much of a Patrioitic Frenchman as Paray was, he never let that stand in the way of making music correctly and keeps the Flamenco and Bolero elements of this work in full frontal beauty! He charges straight ahead into this Masterpiece, the Opening Pizzicatos as Piquant and Alert as anything in music ever! the Tuttis and Crescendos all Vividly and Lushly Over-the-top, Very Spanish, Indeed! But as well, the ELEGANCE of the music, that typically French Feeling, of Elegant Musical Discourse is also never lost, one would not say this is a POLITE recording, Nor Genteel, but it is Exceptionally Suave and Poised! Very French, Indeed! so, this music is pointedly a admixture of both French and Spanish Sensibilities yes, but again, you feel the Heat and Spice of Spain in this recording (and not the Sheen and Reserve of France), Most Definitely. all the other works on the disc are Glorious as well, and the cool thing is, one gets to have the opportunity to have Paray and Jarvi (Neeme) duke it out in their conceptions of the "Fete Polonaise" Paray here on this Disc and Jarvi on the Acclaimed Disc "Encore" i wouldn't say it's a tie, but they both succeed on different levels. Paray may in most minds take the "Ruban en Bleu" But Jarvi by no means is a Slouch in conducting the "Polonaise" but again, i stress, they achieve a high level of satisfaction in the work on two completely different levels. Both equally Masterful.

The bon vivant that was Paul Paray understood that to keep good dinner conversation going you have to move things along, keep up your end of the chatter, and keep it light and elegant. That's all Chabrier ever wanted and his music is easily understood and loved.

Unfortunately, especially in the case of Ansermet, too many try to make Chabrier more than he wants to be. Ansermet's tempi are down, while Paray's are up-up-up...and lo, and behold, if you look at the score, the old man proves true to the composer's markings...the only recorded maestro who does.

What's there not to understand? Paray's is THE Chabrier disc...and the Roussel, thrown in at no extra charge, proves a perfect digestive for an elegant and jovial dinner.