Kaleidoscope: An Orchestral Extravaganza

Mackerras (Artist), Lso (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 16, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000057MO
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,578 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Bartered Bride: Dance Of The Comedians

2. The Merry Wives Of Widsor, Overture

3. Radetzky March

4. Abu Hassan, Overture

5. Le Prophete: Coronation March

6. Hungarian Dance No. 1

7. Mignon , Overture

8. Mazeppa: Cossack Dance

9. The Jolly Robbers, Overture

10. Orpheus In The Underworld: 1. Overture

11. Orpheus In The Underworld: 2. Can-Can

12. Invitation To The Dance

13. Jota Aragonesa (Caprice Brillant)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid, February 1, 2009

By 

David Saemann - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kaleidoscope: An Orchestral Extravaganza (Audio CD)

Early in his career, Sir Charles Mackerras was booked to handle EMI's orchestral sessions when the scheduled conductor did not show. I don't know if that's what happened with these 1961 Mercury sessions with the London Symphony, but however they came about, the results are among the most treasurable in the catalog. This is a light classics album on a par with anything Fiedler or Ormandy was doing at the time. First of all, there was the wonderful Mercury Living Presence sound, up front and very detailed, with an excellent dynamic range. The London Symphony clearly enjoyed playing for Mackerras, and their ensemble and soloists are absolutely delectable. Something like the Brahms Hungarian Dance simply could not be better done. There are one or two rarities, such as Tchaikovsky's Cossack Dance from Mazeppa, which is a real treat. The overtures by various composers are just thrilling. I had one of the original LP releases of this on Philips, but the engineering was actually by Mercury, something that also is true of Sviatoslav Richter's Liszt Concerti. In sum, fans of Mackerras and anyone who likes classical music with a smile on it will want this disc.