Customer Reviews

George Gershwin: The Complete Orchestra Collection

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Erich Kunzel conducts a wonderful recording of all the orchestral Gershwin one needs. There is a great performance of Rhapsody in Blue, and An American in Paris. They are conducted and played the way Gershwin would have liked. The three preludes are played fantastically, especially Walking the Dog played brilliantly by the clarinetist. I highly recommend this to any Gershwin fan who wants a complete and wonderful recording of this fine American music.

This CD is absolutely top-notch. If you're a fan of Gershwin, you'd do yourself a grand favor by buying this collection. The technically immaculate yet stylish performance of Rhapsody in Blue, per William Tritt, is alone worth checking out the collection (it's my personal favorite rendition of the Rhapsody); even so, every other piece in the collection is of equal quality, and I can't recommend these CDs enough.

As for the volume levels, I've had no problems with the volume being unusually low, and I've played this collection on pretty much every piece of musical equipment I own (MP3 player, 3 computers, 2 portable CD players, Xbox 360, home theater system).

Gershwin has been a long time favorite of mine. A recording like this only bolsters my admiration for this composers talet. His music hasn't become dated but only has gained in luster. Time has been kind to Gershwin. His music sounds better as years go by. I think he wears well and is a classic.

This CD has been recorded at a very low level. If you want to hear that opening clarinet glissando in Rhapsody in Blue, be prepared to turn the volume WAAAAAY up. Great collection, but disappointing quality. Wish I'd bought something else.