I can't see a thread devoted to Jacques Ibert (Jackie Bear...) and having just listened to the Ibert disc in the Louis Frémaux Icon box I thought I'd get the ball rolling.
I haven't quite decided about him yet. The Divertissement - surely his best known work - was a favourite of mine years ago (Frémaux again on a lovely LP with Honegger, Poulenc and Satie/Debussy) and although the four other works Frémaux recorded (Symphonie Marine, Louisville Concerto, Bostoniana and Bacchanale) are clearly from the same pen, they didn't strike me as being as individual as Divertissement. Lots of notes, well-constructed and colourful, but not especially memorable. That was also my impression of the three wind concertos (flute, oboe and saxophone) that I've heard - they rather remind me of the garrulity of Francaix - rather annoying if you're not in the mood. Are there any Ibert champions out there, and if so what would you recommend? (The disc I've just listened to seemed excellently played and recorded so I don't think the performances could be bettered significantly).
I find I have a few more discs of Ibert's orchestral works - The Ballad of Reading Gaol, Escales, Ouverture de fete, Tropismes, Les amours de Jupiter, Le chevalier errant - and an opera jointly written with Honegger - L'aiglon. Also the Don Quichotte songs, and the chamber music on a double set from Olympia (including the well-known Trois Pieces Breves for wind quintet).
I haven't quite decided about him yet. The Divertissement - surely his best known work - was a favourite of mine years ago (Frémaux again on a lovely LP with Honegger, Poulenc and Satie/Debussy) and although the four other works Frémaux recorded (Symphonie Marine, Louisville Concerto, Bostoniana and Bacchanale) are clearly from the same pen, they didn't strike me as being as individual as Divertissement. Lots of notes, well-constructed and colourful, but not especially memorable. That was also my impression of the three wind concertos (flute, oboe and saxophone) that I've heard - they rather remind me of the garrulity of Francaix - rather annoying if you're not in the mood. Are there any Ibert champions out there, and if so what would you recommend? (The disc I've just listened to seemed excellently played and recorded so I don't think the performances could be bettered significantly).
I find I have a few more discs of Ibert's orchestral works - The Ballad of Reading Gaol, Escales, Ouverture de fete, Tropismes, Les amours de Jupiter, Le chevalier errant - and an opera jointly written with Honegger - L'aiglon. Also the Don Quichotte songs, and the chamber music on a double set from Olympia (including the well-known Trois Pieces Breves for wind quintet).
Comment