Toscanini’s Debussy interpretations are fabulous, nowhere more so than here. These were his last Debussy performances, captured on October 13-14, 1953, in Carnegie Hall. The performance of the Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun is the same as that on RCA’s official edition (that one includes some bits of dress rehearsal), and is well known for its superb balance between tension and languor. The Ibéria and La mer sound astonishingly vivid; indeed, the sonics offer more amplitude than the RCA, if not necessarily quite as much clarity. But the performances–Wow! This La Mer must have raised the roof right off of Carnegie Hall: the finale climax is incredible, and the playing of the NBC Symphony orchestra is simply stunning, as it also is in Iberia. Once again we can only sit back and admire Toscanini’s astonishing control of texture, his rhythmic tension in the outer movements, and his ability in Les parfums de la nuit to create atmosphere without sacrificing momentum. As a bonus, Guild includes more than 90 minutes of the Maestro rehearsing La Mer. This last item may be for specialized tastes, but the performances themselves are for everybody. [4/22/2004]
