Paris Is A Party (Paris est une fête)

...this new disc offers us the opportunity to explore the music of a different era when, it claims, the City of Light “set the tempo for cosmopolitan and carefree celebrations”. As it clearly demonstrates, Milhaud, Chabrier, Ravel and Bizet certainly knew how to communicate real joy and liveliness in their scores, while Alexandra Soumm, conductor Benjamin Levy and the players of the Pelléas Chamber Orchestra demonstrate an almost tangible degree of fun and enthusiasm in their very well recorded performances. Even if I remain unconvinced by all that over-the-top self-promotion (“this dream orchestra… an orchestral utopia”, indeed!), I can certainly appreciate the fine musicianship that’s on display on this imaginatively compiled and altogether very finely executed new disc.