Kevin Sutton:
>I would also be curious to learn more about this composer. I don't
>have handy access to a Grove and a search on Classical net turned
>up with no entries for this composer. A web search turned up very
>little useful information. I am quite taken with this man's music and
>would love to hear more. Recommendations by listers of any
>recordings of his music that are noteworthy would be appreciated.
I've been very happy with the symphonies on a 3CD set on EMI by Michel
Plasson. It includes several short orchestral works which I think are not
otherwise available. I've only heard one of the Ossonce set and none of
Sanderling's, but the reviews I've read prefer Ossonce to Plasson. The old
Ansermet of #3 on Decca remains a favourite and I'd love it to make it to
CD.
Without re-reading the Magnard bio, I think my memory correctly recalls:
He was a very self-critical composer and so his work list is comparatively
small. He died defending his home from the advancing Germans in WW1 and
the house was destroyed. I have a vague memory of a rave review of an
opera, Guercoeur.
Richard Pennycuick
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