Opinions wanted: Widor Organ Symphonies

BTDonovan

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Aug 31, 1993, 10:40:26 PM8/31/93

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Greetings, all-

I am starting my CD collection and am particularly interested in finding
some good recordings of C.M. Widor's Organ Symphonies. I recently purchased
5 & 10 from the Phillips label (the name of the performer escapes me... sorry)
and thought it was ok, but not spectacular. If anyone has any comments
on any of the offerings out there, drop me a line or (if there is anyone else
interested) post to this group.

If there are any other 'must haves' for organ that you think would be
worth mentioning, I'm open to suggestions, too ;)

Thanks-
BTDonovan

MHU...@miamiu.bitnet

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Sep 2, 1993, 12:15:30 PM9/2/93

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In article <26122q$h...@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu>, btd4...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu

(BTDonovan) says:
>
>Greetings, all-
>
>I am starting my CD collection and am particularly interested in finding
>some good recordings of C.M. Widor's Organ Symphonies. I recently purchased
>5 & 10 from the Phillips label (the name of the performer escapes me... sorry)
>and thought it was ok, but not spectacular. If anyone has any comments
>on any of the offerings out there, drop me a line or (if there is anyone else
>interested) post to this group.

The disc you speak of is performed by Daniel Chorzempa and is OK, but a bit
metronomic.

The best Widor collection around is the complete symphony cycle on the German
Motette label. It's notable for it's (mostly) wonderful performances,
excellent sound and the exclusive use of period French organs (all by
Cavaille-Coll, save one). The discs are as follows:

Symphony 1 Suzanne Chaisemartin St Augustin, Paris OK
Symphony 2 Marie Morriset-Balier St Ouen, Rouen OK
Symphonies 3,7 Daniel Roth St Sernin, Toulouse excellent
Symphonies 4,6 Suzanne Chaisemartin La Trinite, Paris excellent
Symphonies 5,10 Daniel Roth St Sulpice, Paris superb
Symphony 8 Odile Pierre Notre Dame de Toulouse excellent
Symphony 9 Marie Morriset-Balier St Ouen, Rouen excellent

At any rate, get the volumes with the 4,6; 5,10; and 9. Wonderful issues,
and the Roth at St Sulpice disc is definitive. (St Sulpice was Widor's
organ, and remains the largest (102 stop) Cavaille-Coll in existence).

A new cycle is currently being released piecemeal on the German MD&G label
by Ben van Oosten. This shows much promise. Currently out is a disc
with the Symphonies 3 and 4 at St Francois de Sales, Lyon.

Avoid the Kaunzinger cycle on Novalis.

>If there are any other 'must haves' for organ that you think would be
>worth mentioning, I'm open to suggestions, too ;)

You should have a complete Franck (while on the subject of French
organists). There is a new 3-disc set on Motette of the complete
Franck major works (as well as a few minor ones) performed by Daniel
Roth. This set is superb in every way. Michael Murray has a set
of the Franck works out on Telarc that is also superb.

However, there are quite a few dogs of the Franck works out. Avoid
Jean Guillou and Anthony Newman at ALL costs!

And watch for the Marcel Dupre Mercury recordings to be re-released on
CD in the near future.

Cheers, Mike

Ohn Christian

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Sep 3, 1993, 9:29:02 AM9/3/93

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BTDonovan (btd4...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu) wrote:
: Greetings, all-

: I am starting my CD collection and am particularly interested in finding
: some good recordings of C.M. Widor's Organ Symphonies. I recently purchased
: 5 & 10 from the Phillips label (the name of the performer escapes me... sorry)
: and thought it was ok, but not spectacular. If anyone has any comments
: on any of the offerings out there, drop me a line or (if there is anyone else
: interested) post to this group.

: If there are any other 'must haves' for organ that you think would be
: worth mentioning, I'm open to suggestions, too ;)

: Thanks-
: BTDonovan

Th performer of W.'s Sy's 5 & 10 from Phillips is Daniel Chorzempa. I find it a
bit hasty and dry.

To my knowledge, there are two integral recordings of W.'s organ Sy's:
- one by Pierre Labric at St-Ouen (Rouen, France) on black disc, from 1976.
This should be avoided. I've even heard that the six first symphonies have
been recorded in a SINGLE session; and that's the impression you have
listening to them. He just plays the notes one by one, his rythm is very
unstable and melodies are far from being 'cantando'.
- one under the label Motette, by several organists (Daniel Roth, superb in
Sy's 3,5,7,10; Odile Pierre, very good in Sy 8; Marie Morisset, very good in
Sy 9, not so good in Sy 2; Suzanne Chaisemartin, not so good in Sy's 1,4,6).
The most positive point about this set is that they've (almost) consistently
used good Cavaille-Coll organs (by which these Sy's were inspired).
Two other integral recordings are underway:
- one by Guenther Kaunzinger: stay away from it; he puts forth a brilliant but
dry technique at the expense of Widor's music. The organ at Limburg cathedral
doesn't suit this music either. (I forgot: it's on Novalis label)
- one by Ben van Oosten (MD+G label): one CD is already out (Sy's 3,4 at
St-Francois de Sales (Lyon, France)). I haven't listened to that one, but
other recordings by him are excellent (see below), so if he completes Widor's
symphonies, it should be very promising.

Some other recordings of Widor's symphonies:
- Sy's 5,6 by Olivier Latry at Notre-Dame (Paris, France): excellent
- Sy's 3,6,9 by Marie-Claire Alain at St-Germain en Laye (France): poor, much
too fast (especially in Sy 9).
- Sy 5 by Louis Robillard at St-Francois de Sales (Lyon, France) (on black
disc, probably not on CD): very beautiful for the first four movements, but
then a disappointment: the toccata is much too fast.
- Sy 10 by Pierre Cochereau at Notre-Dame (Paris, France) (not on CD either):
This one took by breath: it is at the same time the best performance of any
French romantic organ symphony I've heard and the only one by P. Cochereau
I like (except for his improvisations).
- Sy 5 by Simon Preston at Westminster cathedral (London, Great-Britain)
(DG label): poor.
- ... and finally a curiosity: I've heard on radio an old recording of Widor's
music by THE MASTER HIMSELF!!! He played movements 1,2,4 of Sy 9 and the
toccata of Sy 5, back in 1932 at St-Sulpice. True, this is probably not
Widor at his best, but he was 88 years old. BTW, does anybody know if this
exists on CD?

Concerning other French romantic composers, I'll first mention Louis Vierne.
You should definively go for the six Sy's performed by Ben van Oosten (MD+G
label) at St-Ouen (Rouen), St-Francois de Sales (Lyon) and St-Sernin
(Toulouse): PERFECT, the absolute reference for Vierne's Sy's. Then, there are
the '24 pieces de fantaisie': I like the performance by Olivier Latry at
Notre-Dame (Paris). In fact, I didn't like half or so of the 24 pieces before
I listened to Latry playing them.

Then, Charles Tournemire. There are two single and one double CD on which
Georges Delvallee performs various pieces. I suggest that you first borrow them
to see if you like this music.

Cesar Franck: I know five integral recordings:
- Marie-Claire Alain at St-Germain en Laye (France) (Erato label): excellent.
- Daniel Roth at three different Cavaille-Coll (Motette label): excellent.
- Michael Murray at St-Sernin (Telarc): good
- Jennifer Bate at Beauvais cathedral (France): poor
- Jean Guillou at St-Eustache (Paris): VADE RETRO, SATANAS !!!

Alexandre Guilmant: his eight organ sonatas have been recorded by Ben van
Oosten at St-Ouen (Rouen, France) (MD+G label): excellent.

Hope this helps.
Christian

Colin 't Hart

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Sep 6, 1993, 3:37:50 AM9/6/93

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You forgot the recent recording on Argo by Thomas Trotter playing on a
Cavaille-Coll somewhere in Lyons.
He plays excerpts from Sy's 5,6 and 8 and the entire Gotique (9 I
think), as well as the Trois Pieces.
IMHO this is a good recording; clear sound and fine playing; I don't
know what the previous expert thinks!
I have Sy 4 somewhere on cassette too - don't know who the artist is or
the organ, though it sounds like a Cavaille-Coll.

MHU...@miamiu.bitnet

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Sep 9, 1993, 11:04:46 AM9/9/93

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In article <26epce$a...@uniwa.uwa.edu.au>, ha...@tartarus.uwa.edu.au (Colin 't

Hart) says:
>
>You forgot the recent recording on Argo by Thomas Trotter playing on a
>Cavaille-Coll somewhere in Lyons.
>He plays excerpts from Sy's 5,6 and 8 and the entire Gotique (9 I
>think), as well as the Trois Pieces.
>IMHO this is a good recording; clear sound and fine playing; I don't
>know what the previous expert thinks!

Yes, quite an excellent disc....probably the best available recording of
the Gothique. The reason I didn't mention it was that the original poster
indicated he wanted a complete Widor cycle, not exceprts.

Mike