Description

Debussy: Images pour Orchestre / Elgar: Enigma Variations | Berliner Philharmoniker · James Levine · Sony Classical 1994

Album Information

Catalog No.: SK 53 284
UPC: 5099705328422
Release Year: 1994
Genre: Classical / Impressionist & Late Romantic
Made in: Austria
Audio: DDD (Digital Recording)
Total Duration: 67:16

Tracklist

Claude Debussy: Images pour Orchestre

Gigues (Iberia) – 7:15
I. Par les rues et par les chemins – 7:22
II. Les parfums de la nuit – 7:43 (Haunting nocturne with Spanish flair)
III. Le matin d'un jour de fête – 4:28
Rondes de printemps – 7:49 (Luminous celebration of spring)

Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations, Op. 36

6-20. 14 Variations – 42:26 total

Notable Highlights:
- Var. IX (Nimrod) – 4:02 (England’s most beloved elegy)
- Var. XIII (Romanza) – 3:02 (Mysterious ship’s engine motif)
- Finale (E.D.U.) – 5:50 (Triumphant self-portrait)

Key Performances

? Berliner Philharmoniker – Legendary precision meets Debussy’s shimmering textures
? James Levine – Balances Elgar’s emotional depth with structural clarity
? Recording Quality – Warm, dynamic 1994 DDD sound

Historical Context

Debussy’s Images (1905–1912): A triptych evoking Spain, spring, and nocturnal scents—cornerstones of musical Impressionism.
Elgar’s Enigma (1899): Musical "portraits" of his friends, with a hidden theme still debated today.

Did You Know?
Elgar’s Nimrod variation is played annually at the UK’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Artists

Conductor: James Levine (1943–2021) – Met Opera legend
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker – Top-tier German ensemble
Producer: Andreas Neubronner (Sony Classical)

Collector’s Note

❗ Condition: Used (Very Good) – Original jewel case & booklet included

Why This Album Matters

? Rare Pairing: Two masterworks of orchestral color side-by-side
? Levine’s Legacy: Captures his nuanced approach to both French and English repertoires
? Definitive Performances: Among the finest 20th-century recordings of these works