Darius Milhaud - Orchestral Works (Leonard Bernstein; Darius Milhaud)

Information

Composer: Darius Milhaud

• (01) La création du monde, ballet, Op. 81
• (02) from Saudades do Brasil, Op. 67b
• (06) Le bœuf sur le toit, ballet, Op. 58
• (07) Saudades do Brasil, Op. 67b

Orchestre National de France
Leonard Bernstein, conductor (1-6)

Concert Arts Orchestra
Darius Milhaud, conductor (7-19)

Date: 1956 (7-19), 1976 (1-6)
Label: EMI

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 8

What’s not to like? Bernstein’s Milhaud interpretations are lively, intelligent, fun performances that have been in the catalog continuously since the late 1970s, and deservedly so. His version of The Creation of the World doesn’t match the benchmark Weisberg recording on Nonesuch, and some listeners might well prefer Charles Munch, but it’s aptly jazzy if perhaps just a touch more relaxed than is ideal. Le Boeuf sur le toit, on the other hand, is simply delightful, full of character and sensitively alive to the score’s colorful details. Bernstein recorded only four of the Saudades do Brasil, so EMI has thoughtfully included Milhaud’s own 1950s Los Angeles recording. The studio sonics are dry and brash, but certainly adequate, and comparison with Bernstein is very interesting, with very large differences in tempo between conductor and composer, without either version being necessarily preferable. Is this one of the “Great Recordings of the Century”? Perhaps not, but it certainly is one of the most entertaining, with warm and pleasing sonics (for the Bernstein items) in this latest remastering. [4/6/2006]

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/milhaud-orchestral-works-2
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/Nov06/Milhaud_Bernstein_3458082.htm

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/Dec06/Milhaud_Bernstein_3458082.htm

http://www.allmusic.com/album/milhaud-la-cr%C3%A9ation-du-monde-le-beouf-sur-le-toit-saudades-do-brasil-mw0001404774

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Darius Milhaud (4 September 1892 – 22 June 1974) was a French composer, conductor and teacher. He was a member of Les Six and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century; his opus list ended at 443. Milhaud composed for a wide range of genres. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality. His most popular works include Le bœuf sur le toit, La création du monde, Scaramouche, and Saudades do Brasil. Milhaud taught at Mills College and the Paris Conservatoire. The jazz pianist Dave Brubeck was one of Milhaud's most famous students, along with popular songwriter Burt Bacharach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_Milhaud

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Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer, and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the US to receive worldwide acclaim. His fame derived from his tenure as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, his concerts with most of the world's leading orchestras, and his composition. As a composer he wrote in many styles encompassing symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and piano pieces. He also gave numerous television lectures on classical music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Bernstein

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