Franck Stradella on DVD & CD

[Alan Howe]

...from Dynamic, for March release:
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Dynamic/37692

[Alan Howe]

And now also a CD release:
http://www.mdt.co.uk/franck-stradella-paolo-arrivabeni-orchester-royal-de-wallonie-dynamic-2cds.html
Teaser video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lsT_r3XycU

[Mark Thomas]

Sounds very enticing  but what about all those soggy shoes and dresses?

[Alan Howe]

Yes, quite. That's why it'll be the CDs for me!

[Alan Howe]

Has anyone heard this yet?

[Alan Howe]

My copy of the CDs came today. Interesting music from the teenage Franck, but the watery stage production almost sinks this (!) as an audio experience. Very distracting - and very silly indeed.

[Mark Thomas]

I do agree. I downloaded the tracks a few days ago. The white noise from the watery effects quite spoils the listening experience for whole stretches of the piece. As for the music, well, one doesn't expect mature Franck from its 19 year old composer, of course, but you'd be hard put to guess who had penned it from what we have here. At first hearing it's very much a generic 1840s French opera: pretty, tuneful, colourfully orchestrated, and rather forgettable. Maybe giving it another go, now that I'm used to the aqua experience, will provoke a more positive response.