Debussy: ‘Prelude a l’apre midi d’un faune.”...

Debussy: ‘Prelude a l’apre midi d’un faune.” Ravel: “‘Daphnis et Chloe,” Suite No. 2. Ibert: “Escales.” Dukas: “L’Apprenti Sorcier.” Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Andre Previn. Philips 426 255-2. Previn lives up to his reputation with this music, in accomplished and meticulously detailed readings. The Philharmonic plays like a world-class ensemble. But, sometimes one wishes that the conductor would turn up the energy level a notch. For all its evocative lushness, Previn’s account of Debussy’s “Prelude” just lays there, and his reading of the “Daphnis” suite also never quite gathers a full head of steam. Philips’ production is glittering--the Philharmonic was recorded in Royce Hall--but unrealistically lavish.