6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic, Rediscovered and Mastered, February 2, 2000
This review is from: Copland: Appalachian Spring / Gould: Spirituals for String Choir and Orchestra / Gershwin: An American in Paris (Audio CD)
The Everest Recording was and is probably the highest form of analog recording, the quality and range are tremendous. I've had this in Vinyl, Cassette and CD, it's the best rendition of Appalachian Spring (suite) I have ever heard, bar none. Sadly to say, I haven't listened to the other pieces as much though I started getting into the Gould work several years ago and the Gershwin is as good a recording as you can find of an American in Paris.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Defining Recording, August 6, 2011
This review is from: Copland: Appalachian Spring / Gould: Spirituals for String Choir and Orchestra / Gershwin: An American in Paris (Audio CD)
When I first started collecting classical music (L.P.s of course), I had a list of "Must Have" selections for all periods of classical music. Copland's Appalachian Spring was one of the selections for 20th Century Music so I went on a quest to find it. I was surprised to find that the music was familiar with the last variation on "Simple Gifts" having been used as a theme for a television show that featured Walter Conkrite as the spokesperson and 20th Century Insurance as the Sponsor. At that time, I usually looked for the music and not the orchestra or conductor. I found this Everest recording of Appalachian Spring at a bargain basement price but I also saw that the conductor was William Steinberg and I had another collector tell me that Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphoney "slowed everything down" when interpreting. I was hesitant to buy based on that (false) impression but I bit the bullet and purchased the recording. I was totally swept away by this rendition of Copland's Appalachian Spring and I have never heard another recording or live performance that captures the essence of this wonderful recording...Everest did a terrific job of recording and reproducing the sound and Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony created a masterpiece...in my opinion, the "definitive" interpretation of Copland's classic. The "too slow" rap must be an urban myth. When I later found a CD of this recording, I felt very fortunate. If you can find the Everest CD now...Buy It.
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