Roussel: Symphonies

 

For those looking at complete sets of Albert Roussel's symphonies, one couldn't be happier than with this Naxos set, I think. Foremost, besides the symphonies, no less than 10 extra orchestral works from Roussel are added to this set of symphonies. Intelligently, these orchestral works are paired to a symphony from the same compositional time period, creating a progression of Roussel's styles across this 4CD set.

Thus, we follow Roussel from Impressionism, through Late-Romanticism, into Neo-Classicism, although the composer never fully relinquishes his ties to Romanticism in his music. Overall, Roussel has a strong, sharp rhythmic profile, most appreciated by this listener who often tires of floaty 20th-Century French orchestral music. His thematic material is pretty strong too, moreso when his works become more efficient later in life.

Naxos generally provides clear sound, although they prefer to highlight the string section of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra over that of the winds or brass. Conductor Stéphane Denève seems to prefer a swift pulse in Roussel, never shirking the more rhythmic and muscular elements of his music. This aspect sets him aside from other full symphony sets from Dutoit, Eschenbach, or Janowski. Of course, when you get to the later symphonies, names such as Martinon, Cluytens, Bernstein, and Munch take precedence on record.

But Naxos has the finest complete set, offering quite a lot of Roussel for listeners, without having to get to much of the composer's orchestral works piecemeal. The playing from Denève and the RSNO simply seal the deal on top of that.

 

 

Works
Vol. 1: Symphony 1 (68.21)
Vol. 2: Symphony 2 (68.43)
Vol. 3: Symphony 3 (63.08)
Vol. 4: Symphony 4 (64.26)

Ensembles
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Stéphane Denève, conductor

Label: Naxos
Year: 2010
Total Timing: 4.24.38

 

 

A full set of Roussel's symphonies and orchestral works, bursting with goodies.

No, Stéphane Denève and the RSNO are not the be all end all in Roussel's more popular works, but nor do they ever disappoint.

A fine set!

  

Find more Roussel recordings HERE!