Massenet's Maelstrom

[Spotted Horses]

I have not heard a note of Massenet. I saw a complete recording of Thaïs on Decca at the record store the other day and thought about getting it but didn't. What else is good?

In the first act Thais is a libertine and sensualist. Then she gets religion and it gets really boring. 

[ritter]

I have not heard a note of Massenet....

Lucky you!   

[Symphonic Addict]

Only one page for Massenet?! Quel horreur!! Seriously though, this guy deserves to be remembered for so much more than just the Meditation from Thaïs. The other day I was re-listening to his Piano Concerto in E-flat major (the excellent Ciccolini/Cambreling recording on EMI). Massenet has a reputation as a rather "light and fluffy" composer, but this concerto is actually anything but: heroic and dramatic in the 1st movement, hymn-like and soulful (and surprisingly dramatic at times) in the 2nd, and rip-roaringly Slavic in the incredibly catchy finale, which ends the concerto in C minor! This highly individual concerto really deserves to be played much more often in concert - I can only imagine how much the finale would bring the house down!

+1 for the Piano Concerto, that 3rd movement is something else indeed, but the whole work deserves more attention without a doubt.

[pjme]

"Visions" is well worth discovering. 

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,11592.msg1314073.html#msg1314073

And I like this little sentimental gem from Le Cid 

[Roasted Swan]

"Visions" is well worth discovering.

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,11592.msg1314073.html#msg1314073

And I like this little sentimental gem from Le Cid

+1 for Vision - this whole Naxos disc is full of unexpected delights.  All rather melodrammatic and impressive I reckon

[img=350x350]https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODgxNTY5NS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE2MDIxOTE0Nzl9[/img]

[Symphonic Addict]

Due for release on August 23rd:



Massenet: Piano Concerto
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G

[kyjo]

Due for release on August 23rd:



Massenet: Piano Concerto
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G

Nice! Massenet's excellent Piano Concerto certainly deserves more exposure.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 30 January 2026:



These orchestral songs must be quite lovely, just like the first volume which I haven't listened to yet.