Andre Cluytens, the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, and the Columbia Ravel Orchestral Works Recordings

 

 

Beginning in 1961, Andre Cluytens and the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra (PCO) recorded the complete orchestral works of Maurice Ravel, a 4 LP set that has been cherished by music lovers and collectors since its release in 1962-1963. These are beautiful interpretations and performances of these works that really showcase the orchestra's colors, textures, and timbres. While there have been many fine subsequent recordings of the complete orchestral works of Ravel (the ones from Jean Martinon [EMI], Seiji Ozawa [Deutsche Grammophon], and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski [Vox] come to mind), this one is one of my personal favorites.

The Cluytens/PCO Ravel recordings have been issued and reissued on LP and CD in multiple incarnations over the years, and you can pretty much listen to all of this music for free now on Youtube as well, which makes the set very accessible. Acquiring the original UK Columbia SAX releases has become an option limited to those with very deep pockets; those of you who have been closely following the used classical LP market are well aware that the original box set as well as its individual four LPs sell for considerable sums of money. As examples:

• According to Popsike, the UK Columbia box set SAX 2476-9 has sold for a median of $701 USD and a high of $4480 USD. This median is an underestimate as the search results (I used the search terms "Cluytens SAX 2476-9") included auctions for the later Testament EMI box set reissue and a Japanese reissue, both of which sell for much less. Clean copies of the original SAX box set appear to go for at least $2000 USD. I've seen sellers on Ebay start the auction at over $3000 USD.
• Individual LPs in the set in clean condition generally sell for several hundred USD apiece. There are a few on Ebay at this very moment.

While I have had momentary lapses of wisdom and self-control in my record collecting past, I have not completely lost my mind and tried to acquire the UK Columbia originals.

Around the early 2010's, I picked up a near mint copy of the Testament EMI box set reissue from an online store for roughly $125. That was not a small sum of money, but I thought it was "reasonable" for an out-of-print audiophile reissue. It was a beautiful set that was a decent replica of the originals with the noticeable exception that the box cover and the record labels bore an "EMI" logo rather than the original "Columbia" logo. The record surfaces were very quiet, and the sound quality was, in my opinion, very good. Sadly, I didn't end up keeping this set.

Testament EMI reissue

Shortly thereafter, around 2013, I began my exploration of the Columbia SAX discography (at least the LPs I could acquire) and, in the process, sadly discovered that the original Cluytens recordings were simply beyond my means to purchase. However, they were reissued in the EMI Classics for Pleasure series (CFP 40036, CFP 40375, and CFP 40093). These were not exact reissues of the original albums since the repertoire was arranged differently across the different reissues. CFP 40375, for example, combined the Bolero and Rapsodie espagnole (from volume 1) with Le Tombeau de Couperin, Menuet Antique, and Alborada del gracioso (all from volume 4). Fortunately, these were pretty inexpensive, relatively easy to find, and also sounded quite good.

... which brings me to the current day. As I posted back in March, I recently took an interest in the French HMV (La Voix de Son Maitre, VSM) and Columbia discography. I wish I knew more about the deeper history behind the relationship between UK and French EMI (and if any of you have any greater insight into this, please do share in the comments below), but from what I understand, the Cluytens/PCO Ravel performances were recorded between 1961 and 1962 at the Salle Wagram in Paris, France by Pathe Marconi. Rene Challan was the producer, and Walter Ruhlmann is credited as the recording engineer (interesting fact: Ruhlmann was co-nominated with Paul Vavasseur for a Grammy award for Best Engineered Album for his work on Poulenc's Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani [Columbia SAX 2445]). The recordings were then released by Columbia in the UK, French Columbia in France, and Angel in the USA. I hypothesized that the French Columbia releases might be a more affordable way to get as close to the originals of these recordings. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that, although they weren't steals, they sold for quite a bit less than the UK originals on the used LP market. After doing some research and shopping around, these are the ones that I managed to pick up, all four for a mere fraction of the price of ONE of the four UK SAX releases. None of them are first stereo pressings, but they bear matrix numbers that look very similar to those of the French first pressings.

Columbia SAXF 913

Ravel L'Oeuvre Pour Orchestre, Album 1

Recorded November 1961 and April and October 1962
Matrix numbers: YLX 1093 21 / 1094 21 D

This is actually a reissue of the French Columbia SAXF 231 first stereo pressing. However, it comes with the same hard cover and dowel rod spine (please pardon the writing on the back of mine above; presumably, it's from its prior owner), and the record has the dark blue French Columbia label with silver lettering. The matrix numbers are essentially the same as those of the first stereo pressing. This record is a joy to listen to, with very nice clarity and presence as well as a wide dynamic range, made all the more noticeable with its quiet surfaces. A good example is the Bolero, which Cluytens and the PCO build up from almost nothing to a powerful, resounding climax. Overall, I found the orchestral presentation to be more close-up and immediate. This is the most engaging version of this recording I have heard to date.  

Columbia CCA 933

Ravel L'Oeuvre Pour Orchestre, Album 2

Recorded October 1962
Matrix numbers: YLX 1103 21E / 1104 21 C

A reissue of the original French stereo SAXF 250, again with the same cover with dowel spine and dark blue/silver label. Unfortunately, I couldn't identify the date of this reissue, but I am guessing it came out not long after the original SAXF given the use of the same cover/label. This album has a gorgeous performance of Ma Mere L'Oye (the entire suite) and Valses Nobles et Sentimentales. Similar sonic signature to that of Album 1.  

Columbia CVB 934

Ravel L'Oeuvre Pour Orchestre, Album 3

Recorded July and August 1962
Matrix numbers: YLX 1105 22D / 1106 22D

Here is a later 1972 reissue of French SAXF 251. We no longer have the hard cover with dowel spine but rather a laminated, flipback cover. The dark blue/silver label has been replaced by a red label with the VSM logo with the postage stamp Nipper dog. Again, very nice clarity, soundstaging, and dynamic range on this album. My copy had a touch more surface noise, light crackles here and there, which didn't detract too much from the overall listening experience. This is a classic Daphnis et Chloe that stands well next to the recordings by Munch/Boston Symphony Orchestra on RCA and Monteux/London Symphony Orchestra on Decca/London, although I think the Monteux Decca may still be the best sounding of the bunch.

Just for fun, I compared this French Columbia reissue to the UK World Record Club reissue (above) of the UK SAX (ST 757; with matrix numbers YLX 1105-1G / 1106-1G). They were pretty close, although I found the French Columbia had a more immediate presentation that drew me in just a little bit more, while the WRC was just a touch more laid back. Both can be found for a pretty affordable price. 

Here is a link to a Youtube video of Cluytens conducting an excerpt from Daphnis et Chloe:

Columbia C 065-12134

Ravel L'Oeuvre Pour Orchestra, Album 4

Recorded September and October 1962
Matrix numbers: YLX 1113 21E / 1114 21D

Again, a later 1972 reissue of the original French stereo SAXF 947. I love the program on this disc, which groups some of Ravel's shorter orchestral works together. This album has one of my favorite performances of Le Tombeau de Couperin. Cluytens and the PCO really bring out the dance-like nature of the different movements, and as a listener, I found this truly charming. The Alborada del gracioso is given a nice performance, although for me, the Reiner on RCA, Giulini on Columbia SAX, and Paray on Mercury have more fire. The Pavane, at 7:02, is taken at a noticeably slower pace than some other recordings (Paray at 6:02, Szell at 6:27, Reiner at 6:35), but it doesn't feel lumbering. Just solemn and mournful.

In summary, I am quite pleased with the French issues of these recordings. Sonically, there's really a lot to enjoy here. While I have not heard the original UK SAX releases, I don't feel like I am missing out on much. You'll certainly have to pay much, much more to listen to the UK versions and, at the end of the day, is it really worth it? How often would you play a record that cost you $500+?

Another "budget" alternative to consider is the Angel box set, which was released in the United States in 1963. I have a copy of this, and while I find the French Columbia releases to be sonically more pleasing in terms of clarity, dynamics, and presence, the Angels can be bought for pretty cheap and offer a taste of these beautiful performances.

The Electric Recording Company (ERC) also reissued the Cluytens Ravel recordings as a luxurious 150 copy limited edition set in 2020 (ERC0061). These were sold for £1450 ($1886). Anyone own one of these?

So, you might ask, how does the Cluytens Ravel box set compared with other complete sets on vinyl? Well, I have not listened to every set out there, but I might be able to offer a few words about a few:

• The Skrowaczewski/Minnesota Orchestra box set on Vox (QSVBX 5133) was released in 1975 and is, in my opinion, excellent. One of the great recordings supervised by the team of Joanna Nickrenz (producer) and Marc Aubort (recording engineer). It might be my favorite in terms of overall sound. With a more laid back presentation and wider and deeper soundstage, it has a different sonic signature compared with that of the Cluytens set. Analogue Productions produced an audiophile vinyl reissue of this set in 1992 that has been highly praised. 
• The 1975 Ozawa/Boston Symphony Orchestra box set on Deutsche Grammophon (2740 120) can generally be found for cheap. I found mine years ago for $3.99 USD. Beautiful performances with an orchestra that also had a long history of playing French music. Decent sound, even though I am generally not a huge fan of the later DG orchestral releases on vinyl. The digital versions sound great. 
• The 1975 Martinon/Orchestre de Paris box set on EMI (SLS 5016) is a nice alternative with a French orchestra that has its own unique sound. Considered by some to be a reference recording.

Judging by the similar release dates of the above sets, it would appear that the record labels all wanted to push out a complete Ravel box set on the 100th anniversary of Ravel's birth year!

That's it for Miles to Mozart this week. Happy listening to you all!