The highlight in the posthumous recognition of Sergiu Celibidache (who, ironically, was strongly opposed to LPs and CDs) was an Edison for the registration with a number of Bruckner's symphonies. Celibidache stunned the critics with these dictation-speed performances, which often brought to light unexpected details. It is also difficult to judge with the new release with works by Debussy and Ravel.
Do you fall for the moments of beauty or are you annoyed by the extreme eccentricities? For example, Debussy's "Nuages" sounds more like a bank of fog that won't go away, than like passing clouds. Admittedly, it sounds great, but is this what Debussy meant? In "Fêtes" Celibidache chooses a lower gear halfway. It is quite possible that this choice sounded like a genius in the concert hall. This effect was not immediately lost in the CD registration, but it is a bit strange. The orchestra in these performances is the Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart. (HJ) _more
