"...Engineering is superb, with warm, vividly detailed sonics that place the listener in a credible space, in this case in the fables acoustic of Victoria Hall, Geneva ... " Ronald E Grames

"...Järvi’s brisk, energetic style suits this music perfectly. He brings exuberance to the Joyeuse marche, which the composer himself described as "crazy", finds all the myriad colors in the popular masterwork España, and paces the "Féte polonaise" from Le Roi malgré lui with such brio that it sounds like a freshly refurbished carousel..." Phillip Scott

"... Järvi is convincing in all this rare content - and that’s not just a statement of support because the music is difficult to find, either. His handling of instrumental textures is masterly, and the energy he brings to everything here, convincing With good sound and the Suisse Romande in fine form, get this one for the unfamiliar content ..." Barry Brenesal 

"...it is good to find Järvi recording music by Chabrier, whose orchestral output may well be a little greater than many people imagine. There are gems here, so I should add that Chabrier’s orchestral music is also of higher quality than is generally acknowledged. Certainly most of it is imbued with sunshine and joie de vivre Järvi has a good instinct for this delightful music [Suite pastorale], the composer’s own orchestration of four of his marvellous Dix Pièces pittoresques for piano I believe he [Järvi] has an affinity with this music. Järvi gives a magnificent performance of the Bourrée fantasque This is among the finest recordings I have heard The Habanera shows yet another different aspect of Chabrier and here Järvi is delightfully characterful and rhythmically buoyant The final track, the Danse slave, shows Järvi at his most engaged ..."

**** - Excellent 

Orchestral Choice

Performance ***** Recording *****

"...This will lift the spirits superb surround sound recording." 

“...Järvi brings both sympathy and solid podium technique to bear on his interpretations the icing on this rather lovely confection is the superb surround sound provided by Chandos. It has all the impact, depth, and presence I’ve come to expect from the best SACD productions. I’m pretty sure that if you invest in this collection, it will be your favorite way to hear Chabrier from now on.” ***** 

“... it is Chabrier’s own personality that shines through the nine works performed with luminous warmth by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under its music and artistic director Neemi Järvi. No Charbrier programme would really be complete without España , and here is is played with exuberance and gleaming colour tempered appropriately with Gallic taste Extracts from the operas l’étoile and Le Roi malgré lui attest to the range of Chabrier’s output , the unifying feeling being the sheer joy, craftsmanship and radiance that Chabrier’s music possesses and which these performances encapsulate so ear-catchingly.” 

“...It’s all dashingly played by the Suisse Romande Orchestra of which Jarvi is now principle conductor. Chabrier wrote to entertain his audiences and this is exactly what the programme does.” 

" Recorded SACD sound from Geneva’s historic Victoria Hall is entralling in its detail and dynamic range and Roger Nichols’s admirable booklet notes complete this wonderfully entertaining package. This is totally persuasive and irrisistible music-making from Järvi and the OSR, a magnificent orchestra Highly recommended."

"...much to get pleasure from, and Ralph Couzens’s engineering – for sound that is vivid and within a defined acoustic – is impressive on its own terms." 

This is the first time ever that I have submitted a review of a recording, and I have done so only because one has been requested. I have taken Gramophone on and off for forty years or more, a couple of years ago subscribing to the BBC Music Magazine also, only because I had become very fed up with many of Gramophone's reviews. Frankly, it's as if some of them want to cater only for other music industry professionals rather than for the record buying public. For example there is scant attention payed to the quality of recordings these days, and if that is mentioned it is only in passing, and very often gives the impression of complete ignorance of the subject. Very important though an informed critique of the musical performance is, that is not the only feature of a recording to be enjoyed at home on good equipment. Anyway, to what I think of the Chabrier. I downloaded the 24/96 version and it's very refreshing to listen to a natural recording rather than a multi-mic balance which too many so-called 'live' and 'in yer face' orchestral recordings seem to employ these days. Leif Ove Andsnes's beautiful Beethoven Journey on Sony is one of those, for example, and it received rave reviews, but the orchestra lacks perspective and the piano is so wide and phasey I find it unsettling to listen to when sitting in the stereo seat. The reasons are clear having seen all those microphones in the picture reproduced in Gramophone, and I'm afraid that that recording was wrecked for me. I'm getting off track again. I don't want to be too critical because I'm sure I have other excellent recordings of yours, but unfortunately I did think that in this case your main pickup was a bit too distant, particularly considering Chabrier's lighter style, and it did seem as if the HF was falling off too rapidly. Indeed I think I would have preferred a bit more bite and excitement that a few gingerly handled additional spot mics would have provided. Being the introductory first piece, the rather dull-sounding Joyeuse Marche is not quite joyeux enough and would have benefited most I feel; unfortunately it has a not very attractive bottom end swill and lack of definition. Maybe you had a difficult time managing the venue's acoustic? Thanks for bearing with me, and sorry if I'm being bit picky because, believe me, I'm really enjoying the recording. I wouldn't have downloaded it otherwise.