Bizet: Roma

 

While most of us will have heard Georges Bizet's concert suite taken from his opera Carmen, or even perhaps L'Arlésienne, and those who have moved past his opera suites have certainly come across his Symphony in C Major. Beyond that, the composer's orchestral music is slim. Granted, Bizet only lived until the age of 36, so the guy barely lived into maturity.

What we have here on this recording is music beyond those familiar works mentioned above. Bizet's Roma Symphony, or symphonic suite depending on your allegiances, is another smiling symphonic work not to removed from his other symphony. Much is owed to Mendelssohn; listen to the quartet of horns at the opening, as well as the Scherzo and tarantella, which swirls around and rocks akin to the earlier German master. The slow movement is lovely, if not a little square, where Bizet's many ideas are well received.

The Petite Suite and the accompanying Les Quatre Coins are orchestrations of a four-handed piano suite called Jeux d'Enfants. These are precious, twee miniatures of light charm, with Naxos offering six of the twelve.

I actually enjoy the Marche Funèbre in B minor quite a bit, although it moves in rather operatic motions once it really gets going, as does the blandly-titled Overture in A Major. Swollen, sweeping tunes of over-emotional drama fill these pieces with overwrought feelings. The Patrie Overture, on the other hand, is rougher and more militaristic in style, a nice change from the others on the program.

The modern symphony orchestra has become such well-oiled machines, I rarely have anything to say against them other than sonic issues from the issuing label or musical preferences from the composer. As it is, I really enjoy how Naxos places the flutes and piccolo in particular, and the harp is gorgeous against the strings in this recording.

In this case, however, if I hear any issues in listening to this program of lesser-known Bizet, it comes from Jean-Luc Tingaud and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. They play light and bubbly, with great exactitude and nary a hair out of place. While these are not slow performances, I do wish Tingaud would have allowed the players to let their hair loose some, maybe even with the occasional heart-on-sleeve moment. As it is, Tingaud's leadership here is the definition of elegance and refinement.

That said, these are players with great musicianship and Tingaud shows great admiration for the music of Bizet. I wonder if he is underselling the music though, where I could imagine more characterization. However, if you don't mind endlessly fizzy Gallic accounts, this program remains extremely enjoyable nonetheless. That, and there is such a lot of music from Bizet on this recording!

 

Works
Roma (31.11)
Petite Suite, op. 22 (10.50)
Patrie: Overture, op. 19 (12.18)
Overture in A Major (12.39)
Marche Funèbre in B minor (8.25)
Esquisse: Les Quatre Coins (3.02)

Ensembles
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
Jean-Luc Tingaud, conductor

Label: Naxos
Year: 2015
Total Timing: 78.24

 

  

 

What a full program of orchestral music from George Bizet this is! Much of it isn't very well known, although recordings can be found here and there of individual pieces.

Jean-Luc Tingaud has the RTÉ playing light and frothy throughout, with stunning accuracy, which can simply become too much in a program dedicated to one composer.

 

 

 

 

Find more Bizet recordings HERE!