Customer Reviews

Ports of Call

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

 

 

When collections of this sort were popular in the 1950's, by people like Ormandy and Fiedler, they featured virgorous, tense performances that really brought the showpiece quality to the fore. Eiji Oue, while technically a very fine conductor, has a slightly different take on these pieces. In Espana, for example, colors are manifold, but there is a lack of snap to the orchestra playing. Finlandia is not hyperdramatic, but it is well delineated. Escales is perhaps the best performance on the disc, in part because French music seems especially suited to Oue's virtues. The Alfven is a full scale, lush performance, while Capriccio Italien, however short on excitement, offers sumptuous string sound and an idiomatic treatment of the themes. I did not listen to this CD on a CD player with an HDCD chip, as recommended. Nevertheless, the sound was full and warm, with excellent detail and just a hint of wispiness to the violins. If you want these pieces in up to date sound, don't hesitate. But there are more thrilling recordings of Finlandia and the Alfven by Ormandy and of the Capriccio Italien by Bernstein and the N.Y. Philharmonic, all on Sony.

The performances and sound are excellent.
What leads me to comment is the recording technology - HDCD - High Definition Compatible Digital. If you've ever thought that digital music is lacking, this may be our answer. Developed in the 1990s, it eliminates distortions which are normal in regular digital. Brass does not sound harsh. And it adds sound which normal digital fails to capture.
I listen without an HDCD player, and it is still easy to hear the quality. Purchased mp3s would also reflect the quality. HDCD-enabled players aren't usual now, since this system has been rather ignored. Regular 24-bit digital by itself is not enough, and I don't think 32-bit is either. I'd like to see HDCD as standard. I've presented the page from the booklet describing HDCD in the images.
After listening to samples of selections from other albums, I had to choose this one. My wants were Ports Of Call and The Moldau.

This collection really is a romp through the exotic classical tunes we all know and love. Lots of color and lightheartedness. The only thing better would be to see it performed live.

To wipe the dust off of showpieces is a rewarding task if it succeeds. Espana Rhapsody by Chabrier had never sounded livelier than here, the sudden turning point after the first movement is more than surprising, the Spanish sentiment is all there. As far away is the taste of Scandinavia in Sibelius' Finlandia; here are no fjords or dark woods or cold rocks, if you like to here them through the music listen to the interpretation of Ashkenazy with the Pilharmonia Orchestra on Decca (1981-82). Also, Capriccio Italien by Tchaikovsky lacks the military element which is so apparent on Dorati's Mercury Living Presence record with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (recorded in 1955!). The Moldau by Smetana is made exceptable by the lack of romanticism. And again the brilliance of this Reference Recording does more than credit to the performance of Mr. Oue's orchestra.

This CD is my instant stress-buster. It is better than yoga -- or yoga is better with this CD! I strongly recommend this item.