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Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) Symphonien Nr.1-12
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Basel, dir. Alun Francis - 2000

This remarkable set of all 12 Darius Milhaud symphonies (five CDs) raises a number of immediate questions, not the least of which is why Milhaud's symphonies aren't recognized for their overall artistic merit more than they are. Milhaud started off, as so many composers of his generation did, dabbling in various avant-garde techniques, which are to some degree present in Symphonies 1 and 2 (dated 1939 and 1944, respectively). They are youthful, brash, and militantly French (lots of marching drums, trumpet fanfares, salutes, etc.). But by Symphony No. 3 (of 1946), Milhaud's temperament has stabilized and matured. His palette, though, expands in richness, and the symphonies to follow show Milhaud at his inventive best. Outstanding in this collection are Symphonies 5 and 6 (1953 and 1955), which are by turns moody and deliciously sweet, never atonal or dissonant. The fact that Symphonies 5 and 6 are rarely performed and never recorded makes these works alone a selling point for this collection. This is a stellar collection that belongs in every library of 20th-century music. --Paul Cook