COMPOSERS: Bizet,Faure,Françaix,Ibert,Ravel LABELS: RLPO Live ALBUM TITLE: Collection: Libor Pesek's French Collection WORKS: Divertissement; L’horloge de Flore; Pavane; Carmen Suite No. 1; Boléro PERFORMER: Jonathan Small (oboe); RLPO/Libor Pešek CATALOGUE NO: RLCD 302
An up-and-down assortment has its high point with Françaix’s teasing L’horloge de Flore. Fine woodwind features too in Carmen excerpts and, of course, Boléro, which is springy, lucidly balanced and rousing. Intense expression in Fauré and Ibert makes up for erratic strings and some stodgy tuttis.
Robert Maycock