Boston SO, Charles Munch - Ravel, Debussy: Bolero • La Valse • Rapsodie Espagnole • Images (2005) [SACD]

Stereo sonics: top sound
I had thought of leaving my little review at that but......
This wonderful SACD arrived a week ago and, having listened to it quite captivated by the wonderful performances and superb engineering, I was surprised that it had not been reviewed here. Indeed, it had attracted only one recommendation, a negative one at that, though the score has now improved hugely.
Munch seems to make the BSO sound like a top flight French orchestra in that the performances sound so authentic; the playing is sensitive and powerful, the balance superb. There is depth to the recording which is a credit to the minimal number of microphones used, but the balance and ensemble are down to the inspiring conducting of Munch.
Bolero is taken at a tempo which maintains the tension without becoming heartlessly relentless. La Valse's performance has been described elsewhere as a bit of a mess, but I found the ensemble in the rubati breathtakingly elegant.
Rapsodie Espagnole and Images are virtuoso performances; just luxuriate in the music and the sound!
Recommended with enormous pleasure.