La Mer / Jeux

Amazon.ca Charles Dutoit hasn't always been at his best in French music, despite his much-vaunted reputation and his authentic French credentials. Of course, it's not entirely his fault that he has done what his record company has told him to do, but Debussy is one composer to whom, thankfully, he really responds. Not only are the performances on this disc fully competitive with the best available, the couplings are unique, revealing Debussy's full range as a composer over the entire length of his career. And one thing about Dutoit's achievement has never been in dispute: he has built the Montreal Symphony into a world-class ensemble, and they play this music as well as he conducts it. -- David Hurwit