Yan Pascal Tortelier, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Louis Lortie - Franck: Symphony in D Minor, Symphonic Variations & Les Eolides (2001) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Les Eolides, Op. 26, CFF 127, FWV 43
02. Symphonic Variations, CFF 137, FWV 46
03. Symphony in D Minor, CFF 130, FWV 48: I. Lento - Allegro non troppo
04. Symphony in D Minor, CFF 130, FWV 48: II. Allegretto
05. Symphony in D Minor, CFF 130, FWV 48: III. Allegro non troppo

With so many versions of the Symphony and the Symphonic Variations available, it's surprising that these two favourite orchestral works aren't coupled more often. Here Tortelier adds an attractive bonus in the evocative tone-poem Les Eolides.
His reading of the Symphony is no less than five minutes shorter than both the Karajan and Chailly versions. The reading isn't in any way perfunctory, rushed or trivial, but one made fresher, eliminating any suspicion of the glutinous or sentimental, helped by a cleanly defined yet atmospheric recording. The slow introduction, promptly repeated, is all the more effective for being taken at a flowing speed, with no feeling of haste, and the main Allegro is fresh and alert, less smooth than with either Karajan or Chailly. Tortelier is far closer to Monteux in his feeling for the idiom than either Karajan or Chailly, both taking a weighty view. In tempo Tortelier is very similar to Karajan and Monteux in the central Allegretto, with fine gradations of dynamic and a slightly raw-sounding cor anglais adding to the freshness. It's in the finale that Tortelier is most distinctive, his fast, urgent speed for the Allegro non troppo challenging the players of the BBC Philharmonic to produce exciting rather than genial results.
Louis Lortie is the excellent soloist in the SymphonicVariations, spontaneously poetic in the slow sections, sparkling and light in the scherzando finale. Tortelier is again at his most warmly understanding in Les Eolides, a work that can seem wayward, but which here is made light and fanciful in its luminously scored evocation of the breezes of heaven.

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