Enescu: Romanian Rhapsodies Nos 1 & 2 / 3 Suites

Even today George Enescu's music is unfortunately a great deal undervaluated, though its modernist qualitites are beyong dispute. He is a master well worth to be compared with the greatest among 20th century composers, particularly because of the ravishing tone quality of his scores. His music is an adventure of sonorities, a tone world of absolute originality, combined with vehement rhythms and melodies of pastoral melancholy.This 2 CD-recording is the perfect one to come closer to Enescu's music and start to penetrate its myserious worlds. The popular character of it is well represented by his two Romanian Rhapsodies, op 11., of which the first one in A major is vitally and hair-raisingly virtuosic, demanding an extreme concentration of the orchestra, and also by the Poème roumain, a stupendously glorious work to be an Opus 1!Three suites for orchestra have a very different character, the first one more conventional, the second one a bold and charming transformation of a baroque suite, and the third one a pastoral suite, composed after a visit to his Romanian country, and called "Villageoise", with impressionistic movement titles: "Children out of doors", "Migratory birds and cows", and "River in the moonlight". A lovely piece and a bit more audacious than the earlier ones (this is an opus 27!)!The disc is completed by a "Symphonie concertante for Cello & Orchestra", the solo part brillantly played by Franco Maggio-Ormezowski. In all, there is an excellent orchestral playing by Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo with Lawrence Foster as conductor. His is an important and heroic attempt to introduce and bring out Enescu's underrepresentated music to a wider audience. This is a highly recommendable double-disc for every one curious about new musical adventures!

Probably, like many buyers of this set, I was wondering if compositional lightning struck twice for Enescu, after years of hearing the 'Romanian Rhapsody #1', and only that, on the radio and various recordings. Sadly the answer to that is no. That's not to say there isn't interesting music here. The three suites are engaging, if not yet memorable. The Symphonie Concertante for Cello and Orchestra is also good. I'm not sure Foster did Enescu a favor by including his youthful, 28-minute Lisztian extravaganza, Op.1, but it's there if you want to hear it. The performances and recording are good.

This is not only a fantastic recording, but a great compilation of Enesco's works. It's uncanny that he prolifically wrote most all of this gorgeous music by the time he was 22. Look no further than this recording if you want Enesco added to your library; you won't regret the purchase because you'll want to listen to this 2 CD set over and over again. This is Romance era orchestral music at it's best!

We especially enjoyed the rhapsodies. We were not familiar with the composer but would maybe order more of his music.

really nice songs and it is a great pleasure listening a great artist

Great music.

Defective recording batch. The music is overwhelmed by electronic static. I returned the CD for a replacement twice and all three CD's had the same defect.

Brilliant

selection of music enchanting and being much enjoyed

A first Enescu recording, the two CDs give a balanced in depth sample of this fine composer

A very interesting insight into Romanian classical music.

Met my expectations.

Excellent product Well recorded