Bizet: Symphonie in C • Jeux d'Enfants • Debussy: Danses - Bernard Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (1977)
Georges Bizet: Symphonie in C • Jeux d'Enfants • Debussy: Danses pour harpe et orchestre*
Bernard Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, *Vera Badings (harp)
XLD | FLAC (tracks) | No Log/cue-sheet | Coverart Embedded & High-def JPEG | ~235 Mb
Classical | ADD | Philips Classics (1977)
His first symphony, the Symphony in C, was written in November 1855, when he was seventeen, evidently as a student assignment. It was unknown to the world until 1933, when it was discovered in the archives of the Paris Conservatory library. Upon its first performance in 1935, it was immediately hailed as a junior masterwork and a welcome addition to the early Romantic period repertoire. The symphony bears a stylistic resemblance to the first symphony of Gounod, first played earlier in the same year, and which Bizet had arranged for two pianos although present-day listeners may discern a similarity to music of Franz Schubert, whose work was little known in France at the time the symphony was written.
Jeux d'enfants ("Children's Games") Op. 22, is a set of twelve miniatures composed in 1871, originally composed for piano-duet. Five of the most popular numbers from this set (Nos. 6, 3, 2, 11, 12) were later orchestrated as the Petite Suite and here included on this recording.
Debussy's composed his Danse sacrée et danse profane in 1904. The piece eventually took a place among the best-known and most frequently performed works for harp in the concert repertory. The harp parts are surprisingly conventional, and actually not especially difficult to play, though the exotic, coruscating passagework and rich chordal effects might suggest otherwise.
This recording was made shortly before the start of digital era, but it is an example of the excellent level of sound engineering at Polygram at the end of the 70's. Haitink and his ensemble are in top-form. The world-fame of the woodwinds of the RCO is once more underlined by the exquisite performance by the principal hoboist in the 2nd. movement of Bizet's Symphonie. A must-have, must-hear recording. Enjoy!
Track listing:
Symphonie N° 1 En Ut Majeur
1. Allegro (Allegro Vivo)
2. Andante (Adagio)
3. Scherzo (Allegro Vivace)
4. Finale (Allegro Vivace)
Jeux D' Enfants, Op. 22 - Suite
5. Marche : Trompette Et Tambour
6. Berceuse : La Poupée
7. Impromptu : La Toupie
8. Duo : Petit Mari, Petite Femme
9. Galop : Le Bal
Debussy: Danses pour harpe et orchestre
10. Danse sacrée
11. Danse profane
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