Mercury SR 90211: Vive la March!
Vive la Marche!
Paul Paray, conductor
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Pressing: US, colorback, dark maroon label
Condition: NM-
Date first published:
Stampers: FR1/FR1
Performance: 10/10
Sound: 9/10
Price range: $25-126 (mean $46) on popsike.com
Comments: An album full of marches might not be your daily cup of tea, but this one will give your hi-fi system a workout. Another glorious recording from Paul Paray, the Detroit Symphony, and the team of Wilma Cozart, Harold Lawrence, and C.R. Fine at Mercury. I've said it before: I'm a big fan of Paray's interpretations of French orchestral music. On this album, he takes relatively brisk tempos that give these marches plenty of momentum and excitement. Much like the previously discussed SR 90279, this recording can be praised for its powerful dynamics coupled with a natural orchestral balance. In contrast to the dry string sound (violins in particular) of some of the more mediocre Mercury releases, strings here sound richer and more resonant. Woodwinds and brass and clear and well imaged, and percussion can really slam. Soundstage width and depth are both excellent here. Highly recommended.
You are very generous with Detroit and Paray, but I must agree I've not heard much from the continent that compares with Paray and Detroit, nor Munch and Boston. Am I right, that this is not even close.
ReplyDeleteThat depends ... are you referring only to recordings of French repertoire? In that arena, Paray/DSO and Munch/BSO were pretty dominant in the US. They had stiff competition overseas from Ansermet, Martinon, Cluytens, and Giulini. It's amazing what Paray did with the DSO in terms of taking them to the next level. And while all the other orchestras were recording in concert halls, they were recording in a high school auditorium!!!
DeleteThe Euros are good, no doubt, but I think anything you could name, I could name better. (better American based orchestra for impressionistic music.) Afterall, with the WW2 and its impact on musicans, let's face it many of the best were in the US at that time, having fled Europe, war, and Adolf Hitler.
DeleteThe Euros are good, no doubt, but I think anything you could name, I could name better. (better American based orchestra for impressionistic music.) Afterall, with the WW2 and its impact on musicans, let's face it many of the best were in the US at that time, having fled Europe, war, and Adolf Hitler.
Delete