I discovered Jean Martinon and his superlative Ravel recordings the year I graduated from college, which happened to be the same year he died. Damn. His approach to anything French, and especially Maurice Ravel remains to my ear absolutely flawless and unique. Many people take issue with Bolero- but his version I guarantee sounds unlike what you have heard before. It is a stand out. Much like his Daphinis et Chloe and the two beautiful piano concertos (I have located only one recording that even comes close to this). Of course your ears will be the judges.

I exhausted my LPS so many years ago and had to settle for second rate Ravel Compact discs. Then much to my astonishment these EMI recordings were finally released on a budget label. Now the individual discs have been repackaged into collections and strangely the two piano concertos are absent.

If interested, YOU get to PM ME*…. Offering chocolate, flattery for my priddy eyes and COMPLETE agreement on the sheer majesty and passion of these recordings (or toes will be lopped off, most assuredly). ;-)

~Jean Martinon & The Orchestra of Paris~

Disc 1: BOLERO

1 Bol�ro 14:56

2 Ouverture de f�erie (Sh�h�razade) 13:47

Rapsodie espagnole
3 Pr�lude � la nuit 4:33
4 Malague�a 2:16
5 Haba��ra 2:51
6 Fer�a 6:29

7 Menuet antique 6:19

8 La Valse 12:35

Disc 2: MA MERE L'OYE

Ma M�re l'oye - Ballet in six tableaux
1 Pr�lude (tr�s lent) 3:21
2 1st Tableau: Danse de Rouet et sc�ne 3:39
3 2nd Tableau: Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant 1:41
4 Interlude 0:56
5 3rd Tableau: Les entretiens de la belle et la b�te 4:07
6 Interlude 0:44
7 4th Tableau: Petit Poucet 4th Tableau: 3:39
8 Interlude 1:31
9 5th Tableau: Laideronette, Imp�ratrice des Pagodes 3:41
10 Interlude 1:26
11 6th Tableau: Apoth�ose: Le Jardin f�erique 4:08

Le Tombeau de Couperin
12 I. Pr�lude 3:23
13 II. Forlane 5:57
14 III. Menuet 5:31
15 IV. Rigaudon 3:06

16 Pavane pour une infante d�funte 6:32

17 Alborada del gracioso 7:53

18 Une Barque sur l'oc�an 7:19

Disc 3: DAPHNIS & CHLOE

Daphnis et Chloe, Part I
1 1. Introduction 2:49
2 2. Danse reliqieuse 5:24
3 3. Sc�ne 2:00
4 4. Dance g�n�rale 0:50
5 5. Sc�ne 0:44
6 6. Danse grotesque du Dorcon 1:50
7 7. Danse l�g�re et gracieuse de Daphnis 4:34
8 8. Sc�ne 3:35
9 9. Nocturne 1:39
10 10. Danse lente et myst�reuses des Nymphes 3:14
11 11. Interlude 2:20

Daphnis et Chloe, Part II
12 1. Introduction 0:13
13 2. Danse guerri�re 5:00
14 3. Danse suppliante de Chlo� 5:12

Daphnis et Chlo�), Part III
15 1. Introduction 0:17
16 2. Lever du jour 5:40
17 3. Pantomime 5:54
18 4. Danse g�n�rale - Bacchanale 5:04

Valses nobles et sentimentales
19 Moder� - tr�s franc 1:24
20 Assez lent (avec une expression intense) 2:05
21 Moder� 1:29
22 Assez anim� 1:27
23 Presque lent (dans un sentiment intime) 1:20
24 Vif 0:55
25 Moins vif 3:03
26 Epilogue - Lent 4:13

DISC 4: TWO PIANO CONCERTOS

Concerto For Left Hand
1) Lento
2) Allegro
3) Lento

Piano Concerto in G major
4) Allegramente
5) Adagio assai
6) Presto

Aldo Ciccolini, piano

7) Tzigane- Lento, quasi cadenza- Moderato

Itzhak Perlman, violin

wonderful things indeed ;)

Martinon was one of the foremost exponents of Ravel's music and this collection is a testament to his artistry.
Don't miss it!
BTW, thanks to Phideas1 for posting it!

Today I don't post, I Download and this is a Hyper, Super Post !!!
Thank Phideas1 !!!

I just noticed that I haven't thanked you
for this superb collection.
Noone should miss this.
Thank you very much, my friend.

It doesn't seem to matter how many orchestras or conductors record this work... you can not beat the Martinon recordings. I hope you heard just how special his version of Bolero sounds. You will hear instruments you have not heard before- for some reason buried in other renditions.

People should ALWAYS listen to Peter. ;-)

(if not me)