V 2: Complete Erato Recordings

Jean-Pierre Rampal was the go-to flutist of the early part of my time playing flute. He rediscovered forgotten flute repertoire, popularized the flute as a solo instrument and added new pieces through his commissioning efforts. This is the second of three collections of the complete Erato recordings and this set (1963--1969) demonstrates all of these skills. It is wonderfully recorded and includes his performances of the Jolivet, Ibert and Rivier Concertos--favorite pieces of mine.

Who were the half-dozen greatest instrumentalists of the Twentieth Century? Now, there's a game for inveterate record collectors and classical music enthusiasts! Everyone enjoys making lists and rankings, and it sharpens the intellect as well as one's aesthetic sensibilities to try and justify one's choices. So here's my list in rank order, for what it's worth (and reflecting my biases, to be sure): Glenn Gould, Sviatoslav Richter, Jascha Heifetz, Vladimir Horowitz, Pablo Casals--and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Now I am not a flautist, nor do I have the professional credentials to judge Rampal's technical mastery (or any deficiencies). I stumble along on piano and organ. But my ears tell me that here was a supremely gifted musician who played everything, or nearly everything, in his huge repertoire with golden tone, exquisite phrasing, and a unique--and entirely Francophone--joie de vivre. I will not comment on any of the particular performances anthologized in this "chunky" second volume of a projected four-volume edition of the "Complete Erato and HMV Recordings" (and there's some indication that maybe the late Sony recordings will also be reissued in this series). I have neither the time nor the inclination for that. But in works ranging from Baroque to (very nearly) modernist avant-garde, Rampal proves himself absolute master of his craft, and flexible enough to enter fully in persuasively into hugely contrasted idioms. Perhaps the greatest treasure for me in this huge volume was the reissue of the Handel Flute Sonatas (which I had long enjoyed on LP), and the Vivaldi "Chamber Concertos" (likewise). But nearly everything else, including many transcriptions of concertos and sonatas originally scored for other instruments proved enthralling. If the prospect of twenty-four hours of flute music seems daunting, please take it from this listener that never during the long haul of auditioning this set (which I didn't do, of course, in one sitting) did I become bored with the repertoire or tired of the flute's distinctive timbre. I look forward, as finances allow, to purchasing the soon to be issued Third Volume (the First interests me less), which contains, evidently, Rampal's classic recordings of Bach's Flute Sonatas and (long awaited--I've been looking for it on CD for decades!) his and Veyron-Lacroix's scintillating transcriptions of the Trio Sonatas for Organ BWV 525-530.As for orchestral playing in the concertos, other soloists in chamber repertoire, and keyboard accompaniments, I have no major complaints. Veyron-Lacroix, of course, is an exquisitely sensitive keyboard artist, even if his harpsichord playing (and the instruments he employs) won't necessarily endear him to historically-informed audiences. The other wind and string soloists who join Rampal in trio sonatas and the like are all first-rate artists in their own right; one also gets the sense that they are esteemed colleagues as well, so responsive are the soloists to each other. The chamber and other orchestras are generally well-prepared and -conducted; though, once again, in Baroque and Classical repertoire they utilize styles of playing that will seem outmoded to period performance aficionados. At least, so far as I can tell, ornamentation is correctly applied and executed in the Baroque solo and trio sonatas, and, by Rampal at least, in the 18th Century concertos.Remastered recording quality ranges from acceptable to excellent. As with most Erato recordings of this vintage, the sound is a bit distant and under-amplified, with a distinct treble emphasis. To get best results, adjustments of the controls on your sound reproduction equipment may be advisable in some cases.Don't hesitate, then, if you are a lover of the instrument and an admirer of this splendid artist. Endless pleasure, endless love.

just wonderful. really happy with this item :-)

A source of happiness, pleasure, instruction, satisfaction. It goes beyond what can be expressed by words.

Il più grande flautista di sempre finalmente in una raccolta di ottima qualità tecnica, senza ovviamente parlare degli interpreti sublimi. La letteratura del flauto è tutta qui, nel genio di Rampal. Le incisioni, come dicevo, anche le più vecchie sono state rimasterizzate in maniera davvero pregevole. Le raccolte sono tre, a un prezzo ottimo e non possono mancare nella discoteca di un vero amante del flautismo. Jean Pierre je t'aime!

Questo cofanetto di 20 cd, secondo della serie di registrazioni effettuate dal grande flautista francese per la Erato, contiene alcune incisioni che sono autentici capolavori: Prokofiev, Poulenc, Jolivet, Tisné, Vivaldi, Mozart.....Rampal rivela una notevole bellezza di suono. Bellissimo il 5 cd contenente concerti di Bach e Telemann qui, il flautista francese é in autentico stato di grazia. Testimonianza imprescindibile dell'arte di questo grande musicista.

Warner Classics should be absolutely ashamed of their incomprehensible and inexcusable treatment of one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century. No acknowledgment of his 70th birthday (at least Sony made some effort) and nothing on his death in 2000. Nothing! The French President led the tributes; the recording company in possession of most of his recordings did … nothing.Now, finally, an attempt to right their wrongs, perhaps? Well, frankly, a pretty embarrassing start. It all seems a bit begrudging: they didn’t seem to be aware of their own release schedule for these sets – I wonder if they are now – and if you scan their online artists’ roster you’ll see nothing of Rampal unless you go to “show more artists.” There you will find, apart from the two new sets and the delayed Paillard Brandenburgs (with Rampal in 2, 4 & 5), four realeases, one of which is no more than a bizarre selection of bleeding chunks. FOUR! Out of, what, a hundred he made for Erato?No stars, then, for Warner Classics so far. For Rampal’s performances, though … my goodness it’s absolutely wonderful to have these available on CD at last. Some of the earliest recordings in the first set show their age, of course (much less than I feared, though, so maybe one star for Warners for employing a first rate engineering team), but the astonishing dynamic and technical control, beautiful, clean, clear, subtle tone colours and inimitable elegance of the playing shine through, and in the later recordings no allowances need to be made at all. A truly great artist and virtuoso. Personally, I can hardly wait for the next boxes, and if ANY of the music here appeals to you AT ALL these sets should be a mandatory purchase; if you’re interested in flute playing and haven’t got them already … well, you’re just weird.So, Warner Classics, where’s the marketing for this long overdue tribute to one of the greatest artists in your catalogue? Ah, nowhere. I’ll have that star back, I think.