A real classic, the orchestra sounds amazing transparent (those strings....), and the recording is wonderful in capturing the atmosphere and acoustics of the Concertgebouw The producer Volker Straus knew the hall inside out and worked closely with Haitink. Never been bettered!
I own a Phillips Duo disc of Debussy/Haitink which contains this and is all-around excellent. I think the Penguin Guide awarded it a rosette. Great stuff!
This recording is my #1 for Nocturnes and I'm always able to be mesmerized by the imagery RCO and Haitink create. I also very much like Boulez's recordings and Salonen's with Los Angeles (Sony).
Absolutely fantastic recording. I still have the original lp, with its evocative Whistler cover, and beautifully quiet Dutch pressing. Whilst I think my first exposure to The Nocturnes was Abbado and the Boston Symphony on DG (no slouch in performance terms, with an absolutely knockout Fetes - that Boston brass!) Haitink was just 'the one' and still is.
There is just such a beautiful flow on this record from Haitink & the Amsterdammers, Debussy at his most immersive, perfectly captured in glowing analogue sound, just before the industry got varnished in brittle digital wash.
East German women's swim team! 🤣 That Maazel recording is very weird, as was usual for him. It's interesting how often the women's chorus is an issue (for me, anyway). The sirens are supposed to be seductive, sensual, irresistible. In one of my favorite Nocturnes, Abbado with Boston, the chorus sounds more like a 1950s finishing school glee club: chaste, virginal, asexual. Haitink gets the balance right. One of the most seductive choruses is the Philharmonia Chorus in Geoffrey Simon's completely overlooked recording. One never knows where one will find seduction!
Dear Dave, thanks again for this delighting and enlightening series. Dave, is there anything like a Reference Recording of J. Haydn's complete piano concertos? ...and if not, could Matthias Kirschnereit's recording with the Würtembergisches Kammerorchester by Berlin Classics be one in your ears??
This is a great recording and maybe nr. 1 to choose, but I wouldn't want to be without Abbado, Boulez and one favorite: Giulini with Philharmonia Orchestra.
I must confess, my first recording of Nocturnes was Inbal on Philips...purchased very cheap at a damage sale while in college. They're nice but not very characterful. Inbal had his chance with Philips, and just didn't produce sales. His recordings were OK..just...OK. I think he fared much better with Denon. Of course, I've since moved on to much better Nocturnes.
Now I am puzzled. When I bought my first recording of "Nocturnes" many years ago (on vinyl), the classic-specialised shop owner said that Barbirolli would be THE choice. I have it here in EMI-sleeve with a picture of rocks in the sea ("La mer" being on the other side of the disk). Wasn't that a reference?
Reference and best for me is Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra with great sound on the Sony Japan version and should be in one of the Ormandy stereo boxes.
Van Beinum's with the same orchestra is far superior to Haitink's. I also think Abbado/Boston and Stokowski/LSO are more sensuously beautiful. Yes, I know, the Reference Recording need not be the "best."
A real classic, the orchestra sounds amazing transparent (those strings....), and the recording is wonderful in capturing the atmosphere and acoustics of the Concertgebouw The producer Volker Straus knew the hall inside out and worked closely with Haitink. Never been bettered!
HAHA...only people of our era can really get the "East German Women's Swim Team" reference.
I own a Phillips Duo disc of Debussy/Haitink which contains this and is all-around excellent. I think the Penguin Guide awarded it a rosette. Great stuff!
yes it did!
A brilliant set
Obviously I'm a sick puppy.
I have this perverse urge to hear this Maazel recording.....
I don’t think you’ll find anything objection of all about it.
'The East German swim team.' You gotta luvit.
This recording is my #1 for Nocturnes and I'm always able to be mesmerized by the imagery RCO and Haitink create.
I also very much like Boulez's recordings and Salonen's with Los Angeles (Sony).
Absolutely fantastic recording. I still have the original lp, with its evocative Whistler cover, and beautifully quiet Dutch pressing. Whilst I think my first exposure to The Nocturnes was Abbado and the Boston Symphony on DG (no slouch in performance terms, with an absolutely knockout Fetes - that Boston brass!) Haitink was just 'the one' and still is.
I loved the Abbado too, the LP released in its own lavish box as I remember. For me, that's 'the other' reference version!
There is just such a beautiful flow on this record from Haitink & the Amsterdammers, Debussy at his most immersive, perfectly captured in glowing analogue sound, just before the industry got varnished in brittle digital wash.
East German women's swim team! 🤣 That Maazel recording is very weird, as was usual for him. It's interesting how often the women's chorus is an issue (for me, anyway). The sirens are supposed to be seductive, sensual, irresistible. In one of my favorite Nocturnes, Abbado with Boston, the chorus sounds more like a 1950s finishing school glee club: chaste, virginal, asexual. Haitink gets the balance right. One of the most seductive choruses is the Philharmonia Chorus in Geoffrey Simon's completely overlooked recording. One never knows where one will find seduction!
Hefty Hausfrau types! 😂
Still the best in my book for both the Nocturnes and Jeux!
Dear Dave,
thanks again for this delighting and enlightening series.
Dave, is there anything like a Reference Recording of J. Haydn's complete piano concertos? ...and if not, could Matthias Kirschnereit's recording with the Würtembergisches Kammerorchester by Berlin Classics be one in your ears??
There is no reference recording for those works.
Would love to hear your pick of Reference Recording for Tapiola, by Sibelius. And also a New Reference Recording, if it exists!
This is a great recording and maybe nr. 1 to choose, but I wouldn't want to be without Abbado, Boulez and one favorite: Giulini with Philharmonia Orchestra.
I must confess, my first recording of Nocturnes was Inbal on Philips...purchased very cheap at a damage sale while in college. They're nice but not very characterful. Inbal had his chance with Philips, and just didn't produce sales. His recordings were OK..just...OK. I think he fared much better with Denon.
Of course, I've since moved on to much better Nocturnes.
Now I am puzzled. When I bought my first recording of "Nocturnes" many years ago (on vinyl), the classic-specialised shop owner said that Barbirolli would be THE choice. I have it here in EMI-sleeve with a picture of rocks in the sea ("La mer" being on the other side of the disk). Wasn't that a reference?
Good heavens, no! Not ever! Never. Nichts! Nein!
I must listen to the East German hausfraus!
“Hefty Hausfrau types…” 😆😂
Nice coincidence: Jeux was performed for the first time on this day 111 years ago. Jeuxters ought to know I think.
Beware the Jeuxsters haha!
Reference and best for me is Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra with great sound on the Sony Japan version and should be in one of the Ormandy stereo boxes.
Van Beinum's with the same orchestra is far superior to Haitink's. I also think Abbado/Boston and Stokowski/LSO are more sensuously beautiful. Yes, I know, the Reference Recording need not be the "best."