Favorite Overtures

Ferdinand Herold (Composer), Ambroise Thomas (Composer), Franz von Suppe (Composer), Gioachino Rossini (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Ferdinand Herold, Ambroise Thomas, Franz von Suppe, Gioachino Rossini
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025ME
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,962 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Performances Indeed!, August 3, 2001

By 

Peter Prainito (Lombard, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Favorite Overtures (Audio CD)

This disc which is aptly named "Favorite Overtures" captures Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic at the peak of their creative powers during the 1960's. Each of the five overtures are gems, but of particular delight are the Mignon and Raymond Overtures by Ambroise Thomas. The Raymond Overture with it's galloping opening motive is a hidden treasure which has not been recorded very often. Thankfully, Bernstein gives us a rendition of Raymond that could only be described as definitive. The other overtures on this disc are Zampa, Poet and Peasant, and William Tell. Not only are they expertly played, but their sound is in the demonstration class which is amazing considering that they were made nearly forty years ago. The fact that this disc has remained in circulation for so long speaks for itself. My highest recommendation.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars for five winning performances., September 18, 2003

By 

blue-59 (Blount Springs, Alabama, United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Favorite Overtures (Audio CD)

I owned the LP of this back in the early 1960s (the cover showed a bright red apple with a target painted on it) and played these pieces over and over. The music is wonderful, the performances among Bernstein's best, and the sonics spectacular. I wish I still had my vinyl copy, however, because I would love to compare it to this CD-for sonics, I suspect the LP would win.

Not that the CD is bad, but Columbia LPs in those days were produced with a very recognizable equalization that is not apparent here. And as I remember, there was somewhat more detail on the LP, especially in the strings and in the many bells that decorate these quickly recognizable, entertaining pieces. (Each of the five compositions held a firm place as background music for Warner Brothers cartoons.)

However, the CD is entirely listenable (and certainly contains no pops or scratches). I will be interested to hear the SACD version if Columbia ever produces one. From what I have heard, Columbia's few SACD reissues sound more like the LPs. In any case, the product labeling is poor. The front cover says, "Digitally mastered analog recording," while the back cover informs us that the disc is AAD. (The disc itself says AAD, but it wouldn't be the first mislabeled CD.) No date of production whatsoever appears, though we learn that the cover was designed in 1981. (Give me the apple with the target on it.) The interesting liner notes are what appeared on the back of the LP, no more, no less.

It's not an expensive disc, and some of the pieces, oddly, are not easy to find. Get it!

4.0 out of 5 stars raymond, October 17, 2010

By 

H.S.Clark - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Favorite Overtures (Audio CD)

this proved to be a gem the raymondand mignon overtures were brilliant by andfantastic orchestra and conductor