Customer Reviews

Love for Three Oranges / Sylphides / Preludes

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

 

 

Yes, as a reviewer notes below, there is an inexcusable typo on the cover regarding Prokofiev's dates, but at least they got them right in the liner notes. And, yes, sometimes Fiedler overdid it a bit. The Three Oranges Suite (particularly the celebrated march) is played at an exceptionally frenetic pace. Nonetheless, this is fun stuff, worthwhile as a alternative reading.

While Les Sylphides is rather light and pleasant, and may be offputting to devotees of "serious" music (whatever that is), I found zero "cringe factor" in there. Rather, if you enjoy the work of Leroy Anderson (he of "Sleighride" fame, who had a long relationship composing and arranging for the Pops), you'll certainly give this a thumbs up.

The 2 Liszt pieces clearly are the best stuff here, and they're done admirably well. If you view Fiedler as an old friend with a twinkle in his eye, who's always fun to spend some time with every now and then, pick up this CD. If, however, you dismiss him as a "classically incorrect" downmarket purveyor, you're looking in the wrong place to start with.

Fielder brought out the very best of the Boston Pops, certainly moreso than its conductors following him. This recording just gives us more of what we expect of anything by the Pops under Fiedler's direction ... great music played with instrumental skill and good old enthusiasm, something significantly lacking in many orchestras of today. Sadly, there'll never be another Fielder, nor another Boston Pops as it was when he was at the podium.

I don't understand what some of the reviewers find wrong with this recording by Fiedler? Every selection is tastefully done. Hats off to Les Preludes. NOBODY, BUT NOBODY has a better recording to date of this work. Some recordings might be pretty, but when it comes to climaxes all the other conductors lull you to sleep. Why can't you hear the tympanist beating his brains out especially at the finale. Only Fiedler knows. Just listen to this performance. The strings and winds are beautiful and the brass and percussion are great! We miss you Maestro Fiedler. There will never be your like again.

Perhaps one does not turn to an Arthur Fielder recording for the ultimate in subtlety, because now and then he has the Boston Pops "lay it on with a trowel." Witness for example the opening piece on the RCA Victor reissue <Love for Three Oranges Suite/Les Sylphides/Les Preludes/Mazeppa> (09026-63532-2). After one hearing, I checked my archives and came up with a 1962 review that comments on the sound and fury of the performance and adds "someone forgot to put the music in." Well since the cover gives Prokofiev's dates as "(1685-1750)," you might expect something screwy since that makes him J.S. Bach! The Chopin-based ballet has a new arrangement by Leroy Anderson and Peter Bodge and it is nothing particularly exciting or even good. Finally the Liszt tone poems have been played better elsewhere. So while I really wanted to like this set--it does recall the days when we all got excited over the Living Stereo from the RCA labs--and I can't muster up more than 2 stars for its historical significance and nostalgia value: this is what we all thought was "hot stuff" back in the early 60s.