Vincent d'Indy - Orchestral Works Vol. 3 (Rumon Gamba)

Information

Composer: Vincent d'Indy

1. Istar, Op. 42
2. Choral varié, for saxophone and orchestra, Op. 55
3. Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia brevis de bello gallico", Op. 70: I. Lent e calme - Animé
4. Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia brevis de bello gallico", Op. 70: II. Assez vite
5. Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia brevis de bello gallico", Op. 70: III. Lent
6. Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia brevis de bello gallico", Op. 70: IV. Très animé
7. Diptyque méditerranéen, Op. 87: I. Soleil matinal
8. Diptyque méditerranéen, Op. 87: II. Soleil vespéral

Sigurdur Flosason, saxophone (2)
Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Rumon Gamba, conductor

Date: 2010
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010585

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Amazingly, most of this music is available in multiple recordings, even the much-maligned Third Symphony, subtitled “Short Symphony in a Time of War”. It’s actually not that short (32 minutes), and it’s really not a bad piece at all, being closely argued and sporting more than a few attractive ideas. However, the two major pieces are Istar, one of d’Indy’s most convincing essays and a wholly winning combination of compact form (variations, with the theme only revealed at the end) and exotic tone-color, and the Diptyque, warm and mellow, sort of like French Delius. The Choral varié features an interesting solo part for saxophone, very well played here, but the music is less compelling than that of the other pieces.

However, the performances generally sound very convincing. Rumon Gamba doesn’t let d’Indy’s post-Franckian chromatic harmony gum up the music’s works, and he chooses tempos that never let the listener’s attention stray. The Iceland Symphony plays quite well–better, in fact, than the provincial French ensembles traditionally entrusted with this repertoire on its previous outings for labels like EMI or Auvidis (remember them?). The relative lack of heft in the strings also isn’t the liability it seemed to be in the performance of the Second Symphony in Volume 2. With very good engineering, this third volume in Chandos’ ongoing series deserves a spot on your shelf.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: ***** / SOUND: *****
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2010/May10/Dindy_3_CHAN10585.htm
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/04/dindy-orchestral-gamba-flosason-maddocks
http://www.allmusic.com/album/vincent-dindy-orchestral-works-vol-3-mw0001963874
http://www.amazon.com/dIndy-Orchestral-Works-Vol-3/dp/B003627OM6

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Vincent d'Indy (27 March 1851 – 2 December 1931) was a French composer and teacher. He was a student of César Franck at the Conservatoire de Paris. Inspired by his own studies with Franck and dissatisfied with the standard of teaching at the Conservatoire de Paris, d'Indy, together with Charles Bordes and Alexandre Guilmant, founded the Schola Cantorum de Paris in 1894. His students included Isaac Albéniz, Arthur Honegger, Albéric Magnard, Darius Milhaud, Albert Roussel, Erik Satie and many more. As a composer, d'Indy's best known works are probably his Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français and Istar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_d'Indy

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Rumon Gamba (born 24 November 1972), is an English conductor. He studied conducting with Colin Metters, George Hurst and Sir Colin Davis at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Gamba was Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra from 2002 to 2010. In October 2008, he was named the next chief conductor and music director of NorrlandsOperan. In March 2011, Gamba was named chief conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. Gamba has conducted a number of recordings for the Chandos Records label, particularly in their Film Music series.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumon_Gamba

http://www.rumongamba.com/

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