With dozens of Milhaud discs to choose from, a “10 Best” list will help shorten the casual listener’s shopping list. Elektra/Nonesuch 9 71316-2 piano music played by William Bolcom. ADDA 581292 vocal music directed by Bernard Desgraupes. Hyperion CDA66594 Le boeuf sur le toit and other works directed by Ronald Corp. Chant du Monde LDC […]
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Orchestral Works – Concertos
Milhaud’s stature as a master orchestrator is apparent in current concerto recordings. Of these, the greatest gem is the Concerto no. 1 for cello (1934) in a superb performance by Mstislav Rostropovich and the London Symphony Orchestra under Kent Nagano (Erato 2292 45489-2). The first movement, “Nonchalant,” opens with a brief prelude much like a […]
Continue ReadingLe Boeuf sur le toit
Milhaud’s great early ballet, Le boeuf sur le toit (1919, scenario by Cocteau), is one of his most protean pieces, with different dissonances and rhythms emerging in each recording. On a Leonard Bernstein recording with the Orchestre National de France (EMI CDC-7 47845 2), the sound is very sleek and glitzy, like a good pops orchestra or Broadway […]
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