Poulenc: Gloria; Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani; Concert champêtre

This triple coupling looks attractive, but the problems are rife. Neither the snatches of brilliant Boston orchestral playing nor Battle’s impassioned solos can make up for the Gloria’s grungy, semi-inaudible chorus, or the whimsical balancing of the whole. Preston and Pinnock emerge best on their own, their solos uncluttered. Ozawa’s ultra-brisk pacings colour all three pieces: snappy and exciting, certainly; but an increasing nerviness sets in, with some frenetic time changes, a bit like a race to get home for teatime.

Our rating

3

Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:08 pm

COMPOSERS: Poulenc
LABELS: DG Masters
WORKS: Gloria; Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani; Concert champêtre
PERFORMER: Kathleen Battle (soprano), Simon Preston (organ), Everett Firth (timpani), Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord); Boston SO/Seiji Ozawa
CATALOGUE NO: 445 567-2 DDD (1989-95)

This triple coupling looks attractive, but the problems are rife. Neither the snatches of brilliant Boston orchestral playing nor Battle’s impassioned solos can make up for the Gloria’s grungy, semi-inaudible chorus, or the whimsical balancing of the whole. Preston and Pinnock emerge best on their own, their solos uncluttered. Ozawa’s ultra-brisk pacings colour all three pieces: snappy and exciting, certainly; but an increasing nerviness sets in, with some frenetic time changes, a bit like a race to get home for teatime. He does bring to the foreground the Stravinsky underlay (as in the lesser-known Concert champêtre) – a plus. But a hectic ride, at worst cavalier. Roderic Dunnett

This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2024