Serge Baudo is a wonderful conductor. He deserved much more credit for his work, both in opera and symphonic music.

I like the Dutoit cycle. It's clean-sounding and very French, and has feeling without overdoing it.

Honegger is a favourite composer of mine. I have a feeling, he is somewhat underrated. He has some great things, in the realm of chamber music, too. The Baudo cycle is excellent, I bought it years ago after Mr. Hurwitz's recommendation.

I just found out about these symphonies & I like them a lot. Very rhythmic

I've owned the Serge Baudo set for decades and love it. I also have the HvK or 2 and 3 and excellent they are too. I can never get enough of the first movement of the fifth. Those extraordinary almost modal harmonies at the start and then that rising trumpet that eventually bursts out - brilliantly done by Baudo.

I've had this set for about 15 years. Great, great set. Wonderful composer.

Dave. Just amazing stuff. I truly look forward to your videos each and every day after work. I just purchased the Baudo set and looking forward to discovering some New music. I promise I will keep on listening as long as you keep on reviewing!!

Shostakovich admired Honegger and did a marvelous transcription of the 3rd for 2 pianos.

Munch actually made 3 studio recordings. There’s a wartime 78rpm version, made shortly after the premiere (In the Warner box), certainly not at the level of his subsequent versions. Totally agree about Baudo. I was lucky enough to attend a concert he led with the Orchestre National de Lyon, in Ann Arbor, around 1987 or so. Dutilleux’ s 1st Symphony was fantastic, and the clarity of every strand of every texture was remarkable. My introduction to the 5th was a Haitink Concertgebouw broadcast (from 1967, but re-broadcast in the 70s on “Dutch Concert Hall”). It is included in the 14 CD Q disc set of live recordings from Dutch radio. Damned fine reading, IMHO, and wow did the orchestra play the daylights out of it! Haven’t heard Mravinsky’s 3rd in ages, wonder how that’s held up?

Dear David, thanks for a wonderful talk about these gems! I found that there is another Honegger cycle - Fabio Luisi's with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. What are your thoughts about this cycle?

Great cycle. Karajan 3 is a wonder! Markevich 5 is also very good.

Hmmm. I don't own a cycle. I have Dutoit in the first symphony. Many second symphonies: I think I like Mariss Jansons' the best. I have multiple performances of the Di Tre Re symphony. I've never even heard Baudo! Well, this gives me something to look forward to. Thanks.

Hi Dave. Another great video. Now I'm looking to get this set but not much available today with Baudo. Just missed getting a set on Discogs for around $15. The only set now available on Discogs is $95 (not paying that) and a set on Amazon for around $40. Which version would you say sounds the best? It was suggested from one Amazon user that the reissued cd has questionable sonics and that the best sounding are the European LP pressings. Also I couldn't find the exact copy you had - all the ones I saw had a blue border surrounding the artwork. Thanks

Thanks David. I'll pick up the Baudo set. But what individual recording of symphony No. 3 would you recommend?

Love Honegger. And the symphonies not the least. Baudo's cycle and, for contrast, Luisi's.

What recommendations do you have for Symphony no 5? I have Jarvi and Sanderling, but I would like to hear some other views of the piece.

Thanks for the talk! Curiously I have never even heard the name Serge Baudo. I wonder why nobody released a cycle of Charles Munch’s recordings, given his close affinity to Honegger-I know he didn't officially do the 3rd, but live recordings exist. Probably would be too complicated legally, right?

Since it's quite hard to find the Baudo cycle on streaming services, I put together my own cycle: 1: Dutoit (Erato) 2: Jansons (EMI) 3: Jansons (EMI) 4: Lopez-Cobos (Virgin) 5: Dutoit (Erato) Pretty good I think?

What do you think of Jesús López-Cobos' recordings of 2 and 4 with the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra?

What about the so-called 'Symphonie mimée', "Horace victorieux", inspired by a bloody episode from our legendary ancient times? I have only heard the Plasson recording, and don't know if there is another one. I guess that Baudo recorded some shorter orchestral works too, but not this one.

have Baudo doing 3 & 5 only.

Amazon says "currently unavailable" :(