Customer Reviews

Grand & Glorious: Great Operatic Choruses

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

 

 

I'm not a big opera fan - generally I'm glad when the fat lady sings! But, I love classical music, and a lot of the MUSIC of opera. That said, I really enjoy this disc!

The Atlanta Symphony and Chorus, under the baton of the late, great Robert Shaw, enjoy a well-deserved reputation as one of the preeminent choral organizations. It's just wonderful to hear such a large choir with such command of dynamics - they can shake the room, and they can whisper. The TELARC recording is up to the usual excellent quality - they have captured those dynamics.

I purchased this disc for one reason - because it has Wagner's "Pilgrim's Chorus." And it's magnificent - what a transcendent piece of music! Other selections range from the obscure-but-lovely, to the melodies that have been whistled by everyone at one time or another. Personal favorites include Moussorgsky's "Coronation Scene" from _Boris Godunov_, Bizet's "Les voici" from _Carmen_, and the awe-inspiring "Regina Coeli" from Mascagni's _Cavalleria Rusticana_. There are definitely no "dud" tracks in this collection. It will surely be appreciated by the opera and choral buff, but also by rubes like me, who like the music but don't have a clue what all those foreigners are carrying on about! Know what I mean, Vern?

Total time - 68:35

This is a very enjoyable album performed by one of the best American choral ensembles. All the selections are excellent, and well recorded. My 4-star score is because of Shaw's score of the Pilgrim's chorus from Tannhauser; one of most moving choral works ever written. Shaw has the male chorus sing the straight melody through most of it, with what I'd describe as a glee club sound. While wonderfully sung with remarkable control, it lacks (until near the end) the power I've heard in other performances using greater range of choral harmonies available from such a wonderful ensemble. The "Regina Coeli" is truly a gorgeous performance.