Lully / Strauss: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme – Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

   in Classical Music (Mar, 2018)
This delightful coupling showcases the Norwegian CO’s ability to move between styles, capturing the essence of both Strauss’ assured individuality and Lully’s stately grandeur. The cleanliness of performance is eloquently echoed by the detailed recording, with the orchestra nicely placed in the sound picture.

The idea of linking two distinct approaches to Molière’s Le bourgeouise Gentilhomme (Strauss uses the German translation) is inspired. The Norwegian orchestra has the expressive resources to project all sides of the Lully, while they capture the light-hearted joie de vivre of the Strauss to perfection. The mock-ceremonial aspect to Strauss’ ‘Auftritt des Cleonte’ is beautifully managed, and there is the ‘Das Menuett des Lully’ …