Ibert, Pierné, Milhaud, Fauré, Damase, Franaix, Poulenc & Debussy
Published:
COMPOSERS: Damase; Faure; Franaix; Ibert; Milhaud; Pierne; Poulenc & Debussy
LABELS: Chandos
ALBUM TITLE: Collection: French Wind Music
WORKS: Works by Ibert, Pierné, Milhaud, Fauré, Damase, Françaix, Poulenc & Debussy
PERFORMER: Reykjavik Wind Quintet
CATALOGUE NO: CHAN 9362 DDD
A slightly disappointing disc of occasional works. Masterpieces can disguise pedestrian performances, but a programme of minor works requires far more inspired playing than that offered by the Reykjavik Wind Quintet to be anything more than a brief distraction. This is a pity as some real gems, such as Ibert’s Trois pièces brèves, are let down by the narrow dynamic range and sometimes cavalier approach to phrasing. At best, a disc to dip into… very occasionally.
Christopher Dingle