BaL 9.01.16 - Music by Henri Dutilleux

[Dave2002]

There's a element of irony in the coincidence that this survey falls in the week when so many thoughts are on the late Pierre Boulez (who will feature in the segment immediately after BAL, and indeed in the programme immediately after Record Review) - Henri Dutilleux apparently suffered more than somewhat at the hands of the younger Pierre:

http://www.overgrownpath.com/2013/05/boulez-greeted-him-by-turning-his-back.html

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/apr/28/classicalmusicandopera1

Just listening to the BAL. This is really worthwhile. I don't know much about Dutilleux, but this programme does seem to be functioning as a teaser to get one into his music. Definitely worth hearing this, and perhaps rehearing it - if recorded or downloaded. I may have some CDs of Dutilleux's work, but this programme may encourage me to find them and listen, or even buy more. Some lovely sounds.

Seems to have been more "traditional" than Boulez, which doesn't necessarily make either of them "better" than the other.

Recommended for anyone who doesn't know Dutilleux at all, and would like to hear some really interesting music.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Just listening to the BAL. This is really worthwhile. I don't know much about Dutlleux, but this programme does seem to be functioning as a teaser to get one into his music. Definitely worth hearing this, and perhaps rehearing it - if recorded or downloaded. I may have some CDs of Dutilleux's work, but this programme may encourage me to find them and listen, or even buy more. Some lovely sounds.

Seems to have been more "traditional" than Boulez, which doesn't necessarily make either of them "better" than the other.

Recommended for anyone who doesn't know Dutilleux at all, and would like to hear some really interesting music.

[DracoM]

[Nick Armstrong]

Half-way through hearing the Dutilleux segment. I'm not sure I shall rush out and invest - I do know a number of the pieces, they've never quite made it onto my shelves.

One thing I do know - Ivan Hewitt is a very good guide: a broadcaster who is woefully underused by Radio 3.

[Beef Oven!]

Just listening to the BAL. This is really worthwhile. I don't know much about Dutlleux, but this programme does seem to be functioning as a teaser to get one into his music. Definitely worth hearing this, and perhaps rehearing it - if recorded or downloaded. I may have some CDs of Dutilleux's work, but this programme may encourage me to find them and listen, or even buy more. Some lovely sounds.

Seems to have been more "traditional" than Boulez, which doesn't necessarily make either of them "better" than the other.

Recommended for anyone who doesn't know Dutilleux at all, and would like to hear some really interesting music.

I only have Symphonies No 1& 2; Timbres, Espace, Mouvement; Métaboles and 1 or two other bits, and I have only listened to T,E,M lately, so your post has prompted to schedule a listen to this programme later this afternoon - thanks

[visualnickmos]

Half-way through hearing the Dutilleux segment. I'm not sure I shall rush out and invest - I do know a number of the pieces, they've never quite made it onto my shelves.

One thing I do know - Ivan Hewitt is a very good guide: a broadcaster who is woefully underused by Radio 3.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Despite my #2 above I've just squandered a Christmas token on the recommended 7-CD box. Felt IH's surveys had opened some new seams that needed to be fully explored

If it doesn't produce the hoped-for 'paydirt' at least I now know not to PM Cali in pursuit of offers

[ardcarp]

Seems to have been more "traditional" than Boulez

...just a tad. He seems keen on choosing a tonal centre to work around before moving on to the next. Serialism, almost by definition, avoids the establishment of tonal centres. I very much enjoyed this morning's BAL, and agree with others about the excellence of Ivan Hewitt as a presenter.

[Serial_Apologist]

...just a tad. He seems keen on choosing a tonal centre to work around before moving on to the next. Serialism, almost by definition, avoids the establishment of tonal centres. I very much enjoyed this morning's BAL, and agree with others about the excellence of Ivan Hewitt as a presenter.

Yet Peter Maxwell Davies refers to tonal centres in his own symphonies, which are heavily serial (I've heard and read)! This seems rather to contradict the serial principle established by Schoenberg of a method that supplants the need for organising musical form around tonal centres. But there again, Sir Peter has stated that the structural underpinnings in his music should be audible to any attentive listener, and that his intention as a composer was always to make them so.

Perhaps what he meant is that one should perceive this centrality of tonal centres subliminally, in the same way one does not necessarily recognise which given key is modulating into which in a Mozart or Nielsen symphony, unless equipped with perfect pitch!

[BBMmk2]

Despite my #2 above I've just squandered a Christmas token on the recommended 7-CD box. Felt IH's surveys had opened some new seams that needed to be fully explored

If it doesn't produce the hoped-for 'paydirt' at least I now know not to PM Cali in pursuit of offers

Was that the Erato set?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Was that the Erato set?

Yes. The 6-CD is DG and for some reason far more expensive. IH thought the Erato was the one to go for, not least for some of its historical aspects such as Jean Anouilh's style of spoken French in Le loup as well as for its better coverage of D's complete oeuvre.

Perhaps that's the reason that the DG is pricier: all modern, though not necessarily better, recordings(?). (In any case IH told us that quite a lot are the same in both boxes.)

[visualnickmos]

I really enjoyed this BaL. IH is an excellent presenter. It's a shame we don't hear more of him on Radio 3....

I am not hugely familiar with the music of Dutilleux, just a couple of CDs, but I certainly would like to investigate further recordings, based on this excellent BaL.
Quality radio lives!

[ardcarp]

Yet Peter Maxwell Davies refers to tonal centres in his own symphonies, which are heavily serial (I've heard and read)! This seems rather to contradict the serial principle established by Schoenberg of a method that supplants the need for organising musical form around tonal centres.

It is perfectly possible to devise a 12-note row consisting of nice triads and use it to make a conventionally tonal piece. This used to be a lark of naughty undergraduates, as opposed to the endeavour of serious serialists who arranged the semitones as atonally as possible.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLRlpB6PvD8

... not sure if this is "conventional" tonality (or whose "conventions" they are if it is).

[jayne lee wilson]

Decent survey from Ivan Hewitt, but he didn't mention Morlot.... he didn't....mention...Morlot...!
(Dontcha just hate it when reviewers ignore your pet sounds? Outrageous! .)
Trouble is, they really are exceptional, and the concertos as fine as any - technically and musically an advance on several others I have here...
No.1/Tout un Monde was released on Seattle Symphony Media in 2014, No.2/Tree of Dreams in August 2015, the latter a Gramophone Editor's Choice in October. I doubt Record Review have a team of researchers to help him but it's his job to know these things... although, given his dismissive comments re. la haute-fidélité a few years ago, maybe they were just too beautiful for him to bear....

Strange situation with the Erato & DG boxes, so much duplication. Shame though, that Erato chose Munch for Le Double. As I said earlier, it isn't his finest hour. You'll need another (Morlot truly makes you feel you're hearing it for the first time - and it's my 5th recording). Jarvi (Gramophone 3/2015) is excellent in the 1st, but the DG pairing of Martinon and Bychkov for the symphonies looks stronger (I've never heard the rare & legendary Martinon 1st). Otherwise it's the usual big-box problem: good enough (better value if you're drawn more to chamber/instrumental than I am), but better individual performances (sometimes far better) can be found separately. Good to hear the fine Graf/Aquitaine series recommended (but has the excellent Arte Nova sound survived transfer to Sony?), but Hewitt should have brought Tortelier/Chandos back in for a longer comparison since the sets are both fairly comprehensive mature orchestral surveys.

(Is it too pedantic to complain about pronunciation? Hewitt really did say 'tout un monde lontwan" .... editors, producers, )