Customer Reviews

Rossini: Overtures; Introduction, Theme and Variations

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

 

 

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra plays these pieces better than they have ever been played. The performance is astoundingly clean. The recording is exemplary. The price is almost criminally low. Why Deutsche Grammophon took this out of print in the first place is a mystery. The fact that they've reissued it at midprice is a GIFT to the civilized world. The same could be said of their reissue of Emerson doing the Dvorak 12th quartet, Tchaikovsky 1st, and Borodin 2d quartets. The BEST part of this CD is that the performances are using ORIGINAL orchestrations--orchestrations that have inexplicably fallen out of practice in concert performances of the overtures--that let Rossini's humor in the pieces shine through (e.g. piccolo rather than flute in Italiana in Algeri). Even if you have a recording of Rossini overtures, this one uses the original orchestrations, includes some rarer overtures, and has the clarinet bonus track, and I guarantee the performances are better than any ever recorded. In sum, buy this CD now and be glad for the rest of your life that you did.

I have two major issues with this cd:

1) why was the William Tell overture omitted? Anyone who has heard it in its 12 minute entirety cannot help but be impressed. It's one of the best, if not the best, overture Rossini wrote. Listen to Gardelli or Chailly conduct this overture in their respective versions of the entire opera.

2) I enjoy Orpheus and admire their technique, but at times they can sound a bit too mechanical. In this issue, I found that they were unable to convey some of Rossini's playfulness,warmth and humor.

So with all due respect, I cannot share the enthusiasm of others regarding this disc.

Product arrived on time and was enjoyed by elderly man who requested it. Classical music is usually enjoyed by seniors who have early memories brought back as they listen.

You would like this CD before you have even bought it. The clarinet player is just great. It is a great orchestration and the sound quality is great. I have nothing bad to say about the CD. Don't take my word for it just buy it. Are you trippin'! Buy this CD jigga'!