Taking Stock: Debussy's La Mer

[Seán]

I have spent the last couple of weeks wallowing in the sheer luxurious joy of Debussy's La Mer.

I have the following CDs in my collection:

1. Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht conducting, recorded in 1958 (Membran)
2. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner conducting, recorded in 1960 (RCA Living Stereo)
3. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan conducting, recorded in 1964 (DG)
4. Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F, Jean Martinon conducting, recorded in 1973 (Brilliant Classics, originally on EMI)
5. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink conducting, recorded in 1976 (DECCA)
6. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan conducting, recorded in 1977 (EMI)
7. Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Leonard Bernstein conducting, recorded in 1989 (DG)
8. Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig, Max Pommer conducting, recorded in 2002, (Capriccio)
9. Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado conducting, recorded in 2003 (DG)

[Seán]

These are my favourite performances:

Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française
Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht - conducting
The recording quality is not the best however, the quality of the performance more than makes up for it, it is difficult to describe the sound of the orchestra but suffice it to say that it has a real distinctive French feel to it.


Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan - conducting
This is a lovely performance and it is far superior to the later recording on EMI by the same forces.


Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F
Jean Martinon - conducting
This is a sumptuous, colourful performance by the French orchestra, highly recommended, again this has a French sound that is entirely different to the German and Dutch orchestras, incidentally the entire set is marvellous.


Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Bernard Haitink - conducting
If I had to pick just one performance from the nine, well then it is Haitink and the RCO: it is a powerful and beautiful performance too, I cannot recommend it highly enough. The distinctive signature of the RCO shines brightly here.


Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Claudio Abbado - conducting.
Paired with the incomparable Mahler 2, this is a big powerful performance of La Mer, Abbado gets his wonderful orchestra to sing. The audience response at the end says it all: AAAAAW!

[Jose Echenique]

1.Munich Philharmonic/Sergiu Celibidache.
2.Cleveland Orchestra/Pierre Boulez.
3.Orchestre Symphonique de Montreál/Charles Dutoit.
4.Accademia Nazonale di Santa Cecilia/Leonard Bernstein.
5.Concertgebouworkest/Bernard Haitink.
6.Berlin Philharmonic/Herbert von Karajan.
7.Lucerne Festival Orchestra/Claudio Abbado.
8.Concertgebouworkest/Mariss Jansons.
9.Chicago Symphony/Fritz Reiner.
10.Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell.
11.Anima Eterna/Jos van Immerseel.
12.Boston Symphony/Pierre Monteux.
13.Philharmonia/Carlo Maria Giulini.
14.Philharmonia/Giuseppe Sinopoli.

[Seán]

Thanks Pepe, do you have any particular favourites?

[Jose Echenique]

Well, I have several. The Monteux is very French of course, but the sound shows it´s age. The Haitink, for long a favorite, is superbly played of course, and still sounds good. The Boulez/Cleveland on DG is very well played and recorded, could be a prime recommendation, as is the Abbado, but since that is a filler for the Mahler maybe shouldn´t be considered in the competition.
And yes, I have to say a word for the ever eccentric and willful Celibidache. At over 20 minutes it surely is the slowest ever, but it never drags. The big crescendo in the first movement is almost a Tsunami: huge, terrifying and magnificent. This you can hate or love, I find it fascinating.
Also the old Szell in Odyssey is pretty much worth hearing, the playing of the Cleveland if anything, is even finer than for Boulez.'

[fergus]

My La Mer collection comprises:


1. Ansermet: L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
2. Barenboim: Orchestre de Paris
3. Haitink: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
4. Inbal: Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
5. Markevitch: L'Orchestre Lamoureux
6. Martinon: Orchestre National de l'ORTF
7. Munch: Boston Symphony Orchestra
8. Previn: London Symphony Orchestra
9. Toscanini: NBC Symphony Orchestra


To me, the best performances from that lot are the Haitink and the Martinon and my favourite interpretation would be the Martinon for its particularly French flavour.

[Seán]

Very interesting comments, thank you. I am interested in the Ansermet recording with L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. I have a Tchaikovsky box set by Ansermet and la Suisse Romande and it is excellent, they create a really gorgeous sound.

[Jose Echenique]

I have the Ansermet on LP, very good of course, but for a similar interpretation much better played and recorded try the Dutoit.

[fergus]

Very interesting comments, thank you. I am interested in the Ansermet recording with L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. I have a Tchaikovsky box set by Ansermet and la Suisse Romande and it is excellent, they create a really gorgeous sound.

Like Pepe, my Ansermet version is also on vinyl Seán. We both seem to share the same liking for the same Ansermet.