More World Record Club Reissues: Cluytens and the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra perform Debussy (WRC ST 910)

World Record Club ST 910 (UK)
Debussy: Jeux (poème dansé), Images pour Orchestre

Paris Conservatoire Orchestra

André Cluytens, conductor

Recording dates: September 10-14th, 1963, Salle Wagram, Paris

Producer/Engineer: René Challan/Walter Ruhlmann

Matrix numbers: YLX 1137 22F / YLX 1138 1G

This is the WRC reissue of one of the rarer and more expensive Columbia SAX recordings, SAX 2548, released in 1964. It was also released contemporaneously on French Columbia as SAXF 993, German Columbia as STC 80848, Australian Columbia as SAXO 2548, and US Angel as S 36212. Interestingly, while the UK SAX first edition had a red semi-circle label (the transition from blue/silver first label to red semi-circle first label occurred with SAX 2532), the Australian SAXO first edition was uniquely issued with a blue/silver label. Pretty much all of these issues (except the Angel) sell for a pretty penny on the used LP market. As an example, a copy of the UK Columbia SAX recently sold on Ebay in May for $1,158 USD. 

The WRC reissue can be found for quite a lot less (I found a very clean copy on Discogs for 16 GBP). With the caveat of having not heard the original recording, I will wager to say that the WRC will give you most if not all the listening enjoyment at a mere fraction of the price. In contrast with many of the WRC reissues, this one actually has the same Monet cover art as the original. Tin Ear, one of our insightful readers, pointed out to me that side one has French Pathé matrix numbers and side two has UK matrix numbers. 

This is a lovely recording. Much like they do with Ravel, the PCO under Cluytens' direction bring out the vibrant colors and textures of these Debussy orchestral works. To my ears, the recorded sound is natural and well balanced with a wide dynamic range, wide soundstage, and a nice sense of atmosphere. Clarity is mostly excellent, except for a few instances during louder orchestral climaxes when things can get just a touch congested. As far as the Images are concerned, I think these performances stand up well next to some of the other well known recordings of this work, such as those of Munch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (RCA LSC-2282, my first introduction to this work), Haitink and the Concertgebouw Orchestra (Philips 9500 509), Boulez and the Cleveland Orchestra (CBS MS 7362), Ansermet and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Decca SXL 2287), and Argenta and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (London CS 6013).

If you can't find the WRC, the US Angel issue (S 36212) is another budget alternative. Matrix numbers are quite different (YLX-X-1137-A17, YLX-X-1138-A1), and I suspect that Angel was sent copies of the tapes to master the records in the US.

I picked this up from Irvington Music some time ago for $15 USD and was really pleased to find it still in the shrinkwrap and looking like it had hardly ever been played. Truth be told, the US Angels can be quite hit or miss, but this one is one of the better ones I have heard. While I do still prefer the sound of the WRC, the Angel shares many of its sonic qualities in terms of openness and atmosphere, clarity, dynamics, and soundstage. If you can find this for cheap, I don't think you can go wrong adding this to your collection.

I wish you all a pleasant week and happy listening!