Stéphane Denève, Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Albert Roussel: The Complete Symphonies and other Orchestral Works (2010)

The only available complete recording of the wonderful symphonic output of Albert Roussel, one of the most significant symphonists of the early 20th century and one of France's greatest exponents of the form.

"Naxos has thoughtfully boxed up Stéphane Denève's complete Roussel symphony cycle, thus providing an excellent excuse (once again) to give it the strongest possible recommendation and to urge you to snap it up without delay. There have been excellent individual performances of these works over the years–Munch in Nos. 3 and 4; Martinon and Eschenbach in No. 2; Bernstein in No. 3–as well as a few decent if not thrilling cycles, but none so consistently fine overall as this. Similarly, the complete Bacchus et Ariane is well served (by Tortelier on Chandos), and so is the second suite, but Denève's interpretation ranks right up there with the best. His Scottish orchestra plays with all of the necessary gusto and rhythmic fire, and the sonics leave little or nothing to be desired. Here's one collection with no weak links at all–you can buy all four discs together with total confidence." – Classics Today.com, David Hurwitz

Disc: 1
1. Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42: 1. Allegro vivace
2. Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42: 2. Adagio
3. Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42: 3. Vivace
4. Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42: 4. Allegro con spirito
5. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Prélude
6. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Games of the young men and maidens
7. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Dance of the Labyrinth
8. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Bacchus appears, disguised. The dance is interrupted. Curious, Ariadne approaches Bacchus.
9. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: He whirls his black mantle over her. … She falls asleep.
10. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Theseus and his companions rush upon Bacchus. … Bacchus reveals himself. … With an imperious ge
11. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: The clouds gather. … Theseus and his companions head for the shore.
12. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: The clouds disperse, the sun re-appears.
13. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Dance of Bacchus
14. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Ariadne, still asleep, dances with Bacchus. … The rhythm of the dance grows slower.
15. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 1: Bacchus sets Ariadne down on the rock.
16. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: Prélude. Ariadne's sleep
17. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: Ariadne's Awakening. … She looks around everywhere with astonishment. … She stands, comes, toes
18. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: She falls into the arms of Bacchus, who has appeared suddenly behind the summit. … Bacchus resume
19. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: Bacchus dances alone.
20. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: The kiss
21. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: The Dionysian spell
22. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: The Bacchic procession of revellers forms. … A faun and a maenad offer Ariadne the golden cup int
23. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: Dance of Ariadne
24. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: Dance of Ariadne and Bacchus
25. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: Bacchanal
26. Bacchus et Ariane, Suite No. 2: The coronation of Ariadne

Disc: 2
1. Symphony No. 1 in D minor ('Le poème de la forêt'), Op. 7: Forêt d'hiver
2. Symphony No. 1 in D minor ('Le poème de la forêt'), Op. 7: Renouveau
3. Symphony No. 1 in D minor ('Le poème de la forêt'), Op. 7: Soir d'été
4. Symphony No. 1 in D minor ('Le poème de la forêt'), Op. 7: Faunes et dryades
5. Résurrection, symphonic prelude for orchestra, Op. 4 ('Symphonic Poem after Tolstoy')
6. Le Marchand de sable qui passe, incidental music, Op. 13: Prélude
7. Le Marchand de sable qui passe, incidental music, Op. 13: Scène 2
8. Le Marchand de sable qui passe, incidental music, Op. 13: Interlude et Scène 4
9. Le Marchand de sable qui passe, incidental music, Op. 13: Scène finale

Disc: 3
1. Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 53: 1. Lento - Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 53: 2. Lento molto
3. Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 53: 3. Allegro scherzando
4. Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 53: 4. Allegro molto
5. Rapsodie flamande, symphonic poem, Op. 56
6. Petite suite, for orchestra, Op. 39: 1. Aubade
7. Petite suite, for orchestra, Op. 39: 2. Pastorale
8. Petite suite, for orchestra, Op. 39: 3. Mascarade
9. Concerto for Small Orchestra, Op. 34: 1. Allegro
10. Concerto for Small Orchestra, Op. 34: 2. Andante
11. Concerto for Small Orchestra, Op. 34: 3. Presto
12. Sinfonietta for strings, Op. 52: 1. Allegro molto
13. Sinfonietta for strings, Op. 52: 2. Andante
14. Sinfonietta for strings, Op. 52: 3. Allegro

Disc: 4
1. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 23: Lent
2. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 23: Modéré
3. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 23: Très Lent
4. Pour une Fête de printemps, symphonic poem, Op. 22
5. Suite for orchestra in F major, Op. 33: Prélude
6. Suite for orchestra in F major, Op. 33: Sarabande
7. Suite for orchestra in F major, Op. 33: Gigue






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