RCA Living Stereo LSC-2271: Henriot-Schweitzer plays Ravel and D'Indy
Ravel: Concerto in G
D'Indy: Symphony on a French Mountain Air
Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer, piano
Charles Munch, conductor
Boston Symphony
Pressing: US, shaded dog
Condition: EX
Stampers: 5S/5S
Date first published: 1959
Performance: 8/10
Sound: 7/10
Price range: $24-71 (mean $42 on popsike.com)
Comments: Although this isn't my reference recording for the Ravel Piano Concerto, it does boast a very fine performance by French pianist Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer and fine sonics. In addition, we get a beautiful performance of the less oft recorded Symphony on a French Mountain Air by Vincent d'Indy. If you aren't familiar with this work, I would urge you to give it a listen. The piano is, in my opinion, well balanced with the orchestra and has a relatively natural tone (it seems to be quite challenging to faithfully capture the sound of a piano). As might be expected of a Living Stereo, bass depth leaves a little something to be desired, but dynamics are overall very good on the record with no perceptible distortion on my system. Fortunately, you won't have to break the bank to get a decent copy. I picked mine up on the flea-bay for less than $20.
Jonathan Valin in the RCA Bible comments:
"The 'Orthophonic' mono of this is wonderful. Of course I'm a push-over for the Ravel Concerto and the D'Indy Symphony on a Mountain Air on side two. But I don't think I'm letting my enthusiasm for the music color my enthusiasm for this mono's sound. Staging is, of course, impossible to appraise. But there is nothing questionable about the diaphanous sound of the strings, or the wonderful tone and focus on Henriot-Schweitzer's (Mrs. Munch's*) piano, or the excellent, dynamic bass (which has 'floor' and clarity). Alas, the stereo is not quite as good as the mono. Although it maintains most of the beauty of the strings, it is cooler in ambiance with less 'floor' in the bass and drier, edgier overall sonics. The piano is a shade edgier, too. Transparency is superb, however, as are midband dynamics. Recorded March 24, 1958. (Although this performance is quite good, I prefer the Casadesus/Ormandy D'Indy on Columbia and, among many others, Katchen does an excellent Ravel on Decca.)"
Rather interesting to hear that the mono may be sonically more pleasing than the stereo. I haven't been able to make this comparison.
*I have not been able to confirm this statement about Henriot-Schweitzer being married to Charles Munch. The French wikipedia entry states that Munch was her uncle by marriage.
I've got the classic records reissue of this. I like my concert classic sxlp with Michalengeli which is a great performance. The original ASD goes for around $300-400.
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