These unique recordings make their first appearance on CD. Some make their first ever appearance on Decca!
Jean Morel (1903–75) counted among his teachers Isidore Philipp, Gabriel Pierné and Reynaldo Hahn. He established a connection with the United States early on, teaching at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleu between 1921 (when he was just eighteen!) and 1936. his conducting pupils included James Levine and Leonard Slatkin. Morel’s conducting bore many similarities to that of his countryman Pierre Monteux. His style was bright, clear and energetic, and he always gave the music’s colour its due. Appearing here is the only recording in the Decca catalogue of the complete orchestral version of Albéniz’s Iberia – in orchestrations by Arbós and Surinach. Completing this Spanish-flavoured program is music by Chabrier, Bizet and Ravel. The legendary Decca engineer Kenneth Wilkinson is responsible for the great ‘Decca Sound’.
CD1
ALBENIZ
Iberia (orch. Arbos/Surinach)
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Jean Morel
CD2
RAVEL
Rapsodie espagnole
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Jean Morel
CHABRIER
España
Marche joyeuse
BIZET
L’Arlésienne: Suites Nos. 1 & 2
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Jean Morel
Recording Producers: Ray Minshull (Albéniz, Ravel); Michael Bremner (Chabrier, Bizet)
Balance Engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson
Recording Locations: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, September 1958 (Chabrier, Bizet); La Maison de la Chimie, Paris, France, September 1959 (Albéniz, Ravel)
‘Vigorous, straightforward performances of these chevaux de bataille (or French warhorses) … The recorded sound is bright and full’ (Bizet, Chabrier) Gramophone