Messiaen/Poulenc

Previn’s account of Turangalîla was justly lauded when it first appeared nearly twenty years ago. The benchmark which it set may have been surpassed in recent years, but it is a thrilling performance nonetheless. Unfortunately the ‘state of the art’ recording sounds too over-engineered for modern taste, with the balance often sounding artificial. Simon Preston’s spirited contributions to the Poulenc concertos reflect the temperament of both works with authority. However, Messiaen and Poulenc make uneasy musical bedfellows. Christopher Dingle

Our rating

4

Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:39 pm

COMPOSERS: Messiaen/Poulenc
LABELS: EMI Forte
WORKS: Turangalîla Symphony; Concert champêtre; Organ Concerto
PERFORMER: Michel Béroff (piano), Jeanne Loriod (ondes martenot), Simon Preston (harpsichord, organ); LSO/André Previn
CATALOGUE NO: CZS 5 69752 2 ADD 1978

Previn’s account of Turangalîla was justly lauded when it first appeared nearly twenty years ago. The benchmark which it set may have been surpassed in recent years, but it is a thrilling performance nonetheless. Unfortunately the ‘state of the art’ recording sounds too over-engineered for modern taste, with the balance often sounding artificial. Simon Preston’s spirited contributions to the Poulenc concertos reflect the temperament of both works with authority. However, Messiaen and Poulenc make uneasy musical bedfellows. Christopher Dingle

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