A real musical thought

In 1962, the musical sphere of the New World has to go to the obvious: Fritz Reiner will never recover from a heart attack suffered in 1960; the iconic leader can no longer perform its function as music director in Chicago, at best he will attempt to perform a function still Advisor. Must be found to this prestigious phalanx 7th music director in its history: it will be Jean Martinon, who headed the CSO in 1963 (while Leinsdorf just taken After Munch in Boston), after assuring holding Reiner the orchestra for the end of season 1962. This collaboration will last for five years, after which Martinon return to France to take the head of the National Orchestra of the ORTF (future National Orchestra of France), disappearance Charles Munch. In 1974 Martinon becomes permanent conductor of the Residence Orchestra of The Hague (the disappearance of Willem van Otterloo); it will turn off too early, two years later.

His discography shows the sufficiency, Jean Martinon, is primarily an international champion of French music (especially include Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saens, or Roussel), but also a special attachment to the music Prokofiev, and we know least, the German repertoire (remember, it was distinguished from the Gustav Mahler Medal in 1968, if a composer with whom showed obvious affinities). Also strong advocate of contemporary composers, he lets himself as a composer of many works (statements include 4 Symphonies, 2 Concertos for violin and cello 1, 2 quartets, opera, etc.).

A composer's vision that also feels besides in his reading, deep and intelligent mixed with drama and eloquence. By Jean Martinon, it is primarily a sensitive wand, full of freshness, clarity, balance and transparency. A poetic wand too rich sound expressiveness, sensuality, even opulence, with a goldsmith's art in shades and tensions, never stingy in a balance refinement. An expressive power, elegant and chiselled, embossed projection orchestral able to mix the light to an irresistible energy, in a kind of almost permanent invention. High art of conducting, and more than a interpreter: a real musical thought.

One will find here the ten Chicagoans albums in the formula "original cover"; with a few rarities (such as Arcana of Edgard Varèse, or 2nd Concerto of Robert Casadesus even if it's not with the CSO), sometimes even unpublished in CD as the 7th Symphony by Peter Mennin, or the 4th Symphony Jean Martinon itself (a CSO control for its 55th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of the orchestra). We would also not criticized the publisher somewhat out of formula "studio" offering us either live capture; eg what gold bonus would have been given great 3rd Mahler concert in Chicago in 1967, and published in a fleetingly found box of the 100th anniversary of the Orchestra.

Whatever the wand succeed Fritz Reiner in Chicago was a dangerous mission, and bring along the music (and tradition) and the French contemporary repertoire was not to facilitate public relations. These records belie the bad press and some American critics of the time: Martinon has undoubtedly led the Chicago Orchestra on the same road of excellence initiated by his illustrious predecessor, yet rewarding to finally bequeath a great orchestral tool the one who would reign in Chicago for over twenty years: Georg Solti (for a season of transition in 1968 with Irwin Hoffman, talented assistant Martinon).

Discographiquement we will fetch both heard Eloquence recent publications, which include the Deutsche Grammophon recordings (4CD) and rare recordings Philips (3CD), not to mention the cabinet of Decca Records (9CD) published in 2006. It is not obviously miss home EMI the French repertoire, particularly the cabinet works by Ravel and Debussy, the Symphonies of Saint-Saens or this double Berlioz. Not to mention the Erato discs (Roussel, Poulenc and others Pierné), and of course incandescent Prokofiev recordings at Vox or home Testament. Finally, the testimony of Mahler Martinon being very rare may be mentioned at least one famous 3rd Symphony in Cascavelle.

Kit contents are given below; recordings made between 1964 and 1969 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, unless stated otherwise.

- Bartok: Suite "The Miraculous Mandarin" op.19
- Bizet: Symphony in C major - L'Arlesienne, Suites No. 1 and 2
- Casadesus: Concerto for Piano No. 2 op.37 "Dimitri Mitropoulos" (in 1971 with Robert Casadesus at the piano, and the Orchestre National de ORTF)
- Hindemith: Nobilissima Visione
- Lalo: Overture "Le Roi d'Ys"
- Martin: Concerto for 7 wind instruments
- Martinon: Symphony No. 4 op.53 "Altitudes"
- Massenet: Meditation from Thais
- Mendelssohn: Incidental music extracted from the Dream of a Summer Night (Overture, Scherzo, Wedding March, Nocturne)
- Mennin: Symphony No. 7 "Variation"
- Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 op.29 "Inextinguishable" - Opening Helios op.17
- Paganini: Moto perpetuo Op.11
- Ravel: Alborada del gracioso - Bolero - Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2 - Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet - Waltz - Mother Goose - Pavane for a Dead Princess - Rapsodie Espagnole
- Roussel: Bacchus et Ariane Suite No. 2 op.43
- Varese: Arcana
- Weber: Clarinet Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 op.73 op.74 (with Benny Goodman!)