Decca Eloquence continues its exploration of the recordings of Pierre Monteux (several to follow this year) with a coupling of two works that invoke the supernatural. Monteux’s brilliant, yet cultivated late-1950s readings of these works offer much pleasure, and both are released internationally on Decca CD for the first time.

“enchanting … attractive … the conducting and the Vienna Philharmonic’s playing are a continual delight. Monteux gets the utmost delicacy in the Midsummer Night’s Dream music and misses not a single deft touch in the orchestration.” Gramophone (Mendelssohn)

“a lyrical interpretation … beautifully done … excellently recorded” Gramophone (Berlioz)