BaL 11.06.22 - Debussy: La Mer

**Bryn** · 30-05-22, 13:51

I very much doubt that I will be in the market for yet another recording of the work, marvel that it is.

**Pulcinella** · 30-05-22, 13:56

More Seas than Sea Interludes, then!

Many thanks, as usual, Alpie, but you seem to have missed the Sony Boulez version, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, still available on CD (as well as download).

**silvestrione** · 30-05-22, 14:15

We had a thread on La Mer a few years' back, prior to a Rob Cowan survey in the Gramophone. He chose Halle/Elder. On the forum, I seem to remember mentions for Karajan (by the way, there are three BPO/Karajan, two on DG, one on EMI), particularly his 60s DG, and the Lucerne/Abbado, which now remains my favourite.

**Petrushka** · 30-05-22, 14:16

Originally posted by Bryn View Post

I very much doubt that I will be in the market for yet another recording of the work, marvel that it is.

That goes for me too.

My favourite is the classic 1960s BPO/Karajan.

Does anyone else remember a programme on R3 with Stephen Johnson where he picked apart the second movement of La Mer to reveal the amazing mass of orchestral activity going on? It was a fascinating insight into the genius of composition and deserves a repeat.

**silvestrione** · 30-05-22, 14:23

And the famous Supraphon Czech Phil/Desormiere does just about seem to be available, on Eloquence.

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 30-05-22, 14:25

Originally posted by Pulcinella View Post

More Seas than Sea Interludes, then!

Many thanks, as usual, Alpie, but you seem to have missed the Sony Boulez version, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, still available on CD (as well as download).

List amended.

**makropulos** · 30-05-22, 18:18

Originally posted by silvestrione View Post

And the famous Supraphon Czech Phil/Desormiere does just about seem to be available, on Eloquence.

It’s not in the Eloquence Desormiere set but is available as a download from Supraphon. One of my all-time favourite La Mer recordings.

**Bryn** · 30-05-22, 18:32

Originally posted by makropulos View Post

It’s not in the Eloquence Desormiere set but is available as a download from Supraphon. One of my all-time favourite La Mer recordings.

I will have to investigate. The only Supraphon recording I have of La Mer the Jean Fournet. I see that what appears to be a BnF 96/24 transfer from vinyl is to be found on QOBUZ.

Am I right in thinking this was recorded in mono only?

**CallMePaul** · 30-05-22, 20:36

A pity that Les Siecles/ Roth appears to be download only. If their recent Daphnis et Chloé is anything to go by it would be well worth acquiring. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that Harmonia Mundi is quick to make its recordings download only (eg Faust/ Melnikov Beethoven Violin Sonatas).

**Bryn** · 30-05-22, 20:47

Originally posted by CallMePaul View Post

A pity that Les Siecles/ Roth appears to be download only. If their recent Daphnis et Chloé is anything to go by it would be well worth acquiring. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that Harmonia Mundi is quick to make its recordings download only (eg Faust/ Melnikov Beethoven Violin Sonatas).

Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Mer-Premiere-Suite-dOrchestre/dp/B00B9GZHPM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2FIW2I03H78YX&keywords=debussy+les+siecles+roth&qid=1653943606&s=music&sprefix=debussy+les+sievles+roth%2Cclassical%2C112&sr=1-2

**makropulos** · 31-05-22, 00:01

Originally posted by Bryn View Post

I will have to investigate. The only Supraphon recording I have of La Mer the Jean Fournet. I see that what appears to be a BnF 96/24 transfer from vinyl is to be found on QOBUZ.

Am I right in thinking this was recorded in mono only?

If you go to supraphonline.cz and put Desormiere into the search box, the first item to come up is a set of his Czech PO recordings remastered in 2012. MP3 and flac versions available. Yes, it’s mono only.

**makropulos** · 31-05-22, 00:07

A version on the list which I like enormously is Manuel Rosenthal's recording. I've never quite understood why it's so often overlooked (though I know there are Rosenthal enthusiasts on this forum who will already know and love it). There used to be a wonderful Accord/Universal box including all his Véga recordings of Debussy and Ravel (and other things), but I always thought that La Mer was particularly good, and it's in decent stereo too.

**Pulcinella** · 31-05-22, 07:42

In addition to the BBC MM CD (BBCNOW/Otaka) I find I have seven other versions on my shelves, though some were 'incidental' purchases through Debussy/Ravel sets or conductor big boxes.

OSR/Ansermet
LPO/Baudo
Cleveland/Boulez
NPO/Boulez
Philharmonia/Giulini
RCO/Haitink
ONdel'ORTF/Martinon

The Baudo (on EMI Eminence) seems to be nla, but I remember it having a good review when it was first released (though that might have been for the performance of Jeux).
The Giulini CD is a promotional one, with the catalogue 'number' NIPPER 1. I think it came free with an issue of Gramophone when EMI launched their Great Recordings of the Century series: does anyone else have it in that incarnation?

I don't really have a favourite/go-to version, so I'm looking forward to this BaL in the hopes of getting some pointers to what I should be looking/listening out for, and what makes a recommendable version.

**Belgrove** · 31-05-22, 08:04

Roth’s Les-Siecles mentioned in #10 strips away the accreted varnish of the years to reveal vivid colours and a fresh, lean approach. A curiosity (akin to Gould’s version of Brahms’ PC 1) is Celebedache’s version with the Munich PO, so slow it should be renamed le Glacier. But it does reveal the inner workings and sub-structure like few other versions I’ve heard. Worth listening to once (and great playing by the orchestra).

BaL 11.06.22 - Debussy: La Mer

BaL 11.06.22 - Debussy: La Mer

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