Though not composed on the same grand scale as contemporary orchestral works by Franck, Chausson, or Dukas, Fauré's orchestral works are consistently subtle, tuneful, colorful, and well crafted.
Michel Plasson with the
Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, pianist
Jean-Philippe Collard, cellist
Paul Tortelier, violinist
Yan Pascal Tortelier, tenor
Nicolai Gedda, and mezzo-soprano
Frederica von Stade are practically self-recommending.
Plasson spent years building the Toulouse orchestra, and when these recordings were made in 1979 and 1980, they were as bright, warm, and balanced as the best Paris orchestras, and perhaps more cogent. Produced by Eric MacLeod and engineered by Serge Rémy in the Halle aux grains in Toulouse, EMI's stereo recordings are rich, deep, and warm. These are self-recommending recordings for fans of la belle epoch.