SearchsearchUseruser

French Orchestral Favourites - Wilson

French Orchestral Favourites - Wilson

Chandos  CHSA 5379

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Works by Dukas, Debussy, Chabrier, Ravel, Saint-Saëns & Bizet

Sinfonia of London
John Wilson (conductor)


Since John Wilson relaunched Sinfonia of London in 2018, his hand-picked orchestra has attracted the highest critical acclaim from both national and international press, performed at the BBC Proms every year since 2021 (their live début), and made their international début at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam in 2025. Regularly touring in the UK, they have also released twenty-five albums (this is the twenty-sixth) covering a wide and varied range of repertoire, from Rachmaninoff to Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Opera and ballet were the dominant musical genres in nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century France, and French orchestral music was much more poetic and narrative than the contrasting German symphonic tradition. Master-orchestrators such as Debussy and Ravel drew extraordinary colours and textures from the symphony orchestra, making their works perennial favourites with audiences around the world. Sinfonia of London perform this repertoire with absolute precision and finesse.

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

amazon.ca
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
 
amazon.de
 
amazon.fr
amazon.it
bol.com
 
jpc
Presto

Also available for streaming and/or download in Hi-Res from these services:

Listen on Presto Music Listen/buy on Qobuz

Add to your wish list | library

 

2 of 2 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
hide
Reviews (1)

Review by Graham Williams - June 1, 2026

John Wilson’s burgeoning discography with his superb Sinfonia of London has already encompassed a wealth of French repertoire, including works by Ibert, Ravel and Dutilleux. This latest release, ‘French Orchestral Favourites’, turns its attention to shorter, familiar pieces; music that, while instantly appealing, is now all too rarely encountered in modern concert programmes. In that respect alone, this collection is especially welcome, and even more so when delivered with such flair and style.

The two orchestral suites from Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ form the backbone of the programme. Wilson has reordered the twelve movements into a sequence of his own devising, and the result feels both natural and dramatically satisfying. His use of reduced string forces, alongside small-bore trombones and cornets, effectively recreates the lighter, more transparent sound world of the Opéra-Comique at the time of the work’s premiere. The clarity and crispness achieved here are nothing short of revelatory, allowing familiar music to sound freshly minted.

A particular highlight, indeed something of a rarity, is Wilson’s own 1994 orchestration of Debussy’s ‘Clair de lune’. Scored with remarkable delicacy and insight, this version captures the work’s elusive atmosphere while bringing a new dimension of colour and texture. The performance itself is one of poise and refinement.

Elsewhere, Wilson and his players display their customary virtuosity, precision and commitment. Whether in Dukas’s ever-popular ‘L’Apprenti sorcier’, Chabrier’s exuberant ‘Marche joyeuse’, or Ravel’s shimmering ‘Une barque sur l’océan’, the performances are consistently vivid and engaging. Even listeners who already own multiple recordings of these works will find much to admire and enjoy in these interpretations.

The 5.0 multi-channel SACD recording, produced by Brian Pigeon and Jonathan Cooper and engineered by Chandos veteran Ralph Couzens, is its usual high standard. It offers a well-balanced, detailed sound picture that captures both the clarity of texture and the vitality of the playing.

All told, this is an intelligently conceived and superbly executed release, offering consistently engaging performances that will give considerable pleasure.

Copyright © 2026 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars