Customer Reviews

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Festival Overture; Capriccio Italien; Beethoven: Wellington's Victory

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This is the most extraordinary version of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" I've ever heard! Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the "1812 Overture" in 1880 to commemorate Russia's victory over Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812. This recording was made in 1958. The playing of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra and the University of Minnesota Brass Band, under the direction of Antal Dorati, is fantastic. At their hands, the music is passionate, exuberant, and breathtaking. In addition, a real French cannon (cast in 1775, and now owned by the U.S. Military Academy) and a real cathedral carillon were used instead of bells and percussion instruments.

Dorati conducted the London Symphony Orchestra in its 1960 recording of "Wellington's Victory," composed by Ludwig van Beethoven to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's victory over King Joseph Bonaparte at the battle of Vitoria in Spain, in 1813. Again, actual cannon and muskets from that era were used instead of percussion instruments. The effect is no less brilliant than the "1812 Overture." Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien" is also superbly played by the London Symphony Orchestra. The CD sound quality throughout is outstanding -- so good, in fact, it's hard to believe these recordings were originally mastered over 40 years ago!

Also included are two tracks containing spoken commentary by Deems Taylor, a noted musicologist. His explanation of how the recordings of the "1812 Overture" and "Wellington's Victory" were made is very interesting. Unfortunately, these tracks are interspersed with the music, so if you don't want to listen to them, you have to program them out or manually skip them. I would have preferred to see the commentary either at the end of the disc, or on a seperate disc altogether. That, however, is only a minor shortcoming.

This is an essential CD for any classical music lover. It is an exciting, dynamic, and thrilling listening experience!

This recording by the Mercury Living Presence label is undoubtedly, definitively, the ultimate 1812 Overture, simply the greatest. There are many fine interpretations of the legendary 1812 Overture, composed by Tchaikovsky, and used ad nauseum during 4th of July celebrations and in concert, but this particular orchestration at the hands of the eminent conductor Antal Dorati is the best. As an added bonus, the digitally remastered late 50's LP recording features spoken commentary by Deems Taylor and behind-the-scenes information on the making of the recording. Antal Dorati and the Minneapolis Orchestra outdid themselves with a vivid orchestration of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. It sounds graphic, springing to life with frenzied strings and the charming Marseilles theme, at variance with the Russian national anthem. It is true battle music, a musical dramatization of the war between Russia and Napoleon's forces in 1812. The conclusion has been used in films, commercials, cellular phones, radio and in live concerts with fireworks during the 4th of July. It is the victory theme. For a dramatic touch, cannon and bells were used for this final section. Deems Taylor tells us how on a sunny morning in the late 50's, a team got together at West Point Academy and rehearsed for the recording time and again to get the perfect sound. They used a 1775 bronze cannon from Douay France, an actual cannon that was fired in Napoleonic wars. The clamor of the bells that herald victory were used by permission of the Bells of Laura Spelman, Rockefeller Memorial Carillon of Riverside Church.

As a delightful "intermission" between Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Beethoven's Wellington Victory, this recording has the bonus feature of Tchaikovsky's Capricio Italian "Italian Caprice", a festive Italian-style work that Tchaikovsky composed while vacationing in Italy. There are florid passages- a tarantella, with swirling dance-like themes, the bella ragazza theme and even Spanish-like melody. It provides a nice break between the violence of the two "battle pieces".

Beethoven's Wellington Victory was the source of inspiration for Tchaikovksy's 1812 Overture. Beethoven lavished the score with muscular trumpets, rapid trills on the strings, exciting, intense accents on the musical lines. Th music begins with drum rolls and with the themes "Rule Britania" and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow", followed by climatic battle music that at times feels like we are watching a battle on film accompanied by a terrific musical soundtrack, at one point resembling a Western. For this recording, the London Symphony Orchestra and Antal Dorati's team worked themselves weary to attain perfection. They again returned to West Point, as Deems Taylor comments, and live cannon and musket firing was included by a reactivated Civil War Unit, Battery B, 2nd New Jersey Light Artillery. Deems Taylor takes us back to the making of Wellington's Victory. This is a must for specialized music, especially battle music, and for those who will want to hear the greatest 1812 Overture, complimented by cannon. Finally, it is a remarkable testament to the genius and dramatic flair of Antal Dorati, who was, in my opinion, an equal to Arturo Toscanini.

This classic, enduring reading of the Festival Overture '1812' and 'Wellington's Victory' is stunning, meticulously researched, and yes, extremely LOUD! The music is powerful, well-performed, and truly captures the spirit of all three pieces. In the end, however, the stars of the show are the Bells of the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon and, of course, the artillery and muskets as authentically realized in both battle pieces. The producers of this landmark LP and disc went as far as to use original, extant artillery pieces that date from the periods which inspired both '1812' and 'Wellington's Victory.' The recordings of the artillery are, in a word, INCREDIBLE! Unlike many versions of '1812,' where the cannons can sound underpowered (Naxos with Leaper) or way too pristine (Telarc with Kunzel), the Mercury engineers capture them in their authentic glory, holding nothing back. The Bells of the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon, however, totally steal the show at the end of '1812,' overwhelming the Minneapolis (now Minnesota) Symphony Orchestra, the University of Minnesota Brass Band, and the cannon itself, in a glorious, triumphant storm of sound.

Oh, by the way, the reading of the Capriccio Italien is excellent as well ;).

Deems Taylor's commentary is informative and very interesting, and gives an added appreciation for this disc when one considers the extremes to which performers, producers, and engineers went to put us, the lucky listeners, on the 'front line,' as it were. The winner of no less than TWO Penguin Guide Rosette Awards, this Mercury disc is truly the greatest of the greatest of them all. You absolutely do not want to miss this one!

Even as a small child, I loved Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture. It is filled with the wonder, romance and bombast that characterize classical music at its best. It is the wonder most of us tend to lose hold of as we grow older...this recording helps bring the wonder back.

All the pieces here (the "Capriccio Italien," Beethoven's "Wellington's Victory" and the overture) have something of the unique fire that was Dorati's as a conductor. The sound is clear and warm. If I could own only one version of these pieces, this would be it.

The cannon and bells in the overture are stunning. They actually used a bronze French cannon that would have been the kind used in the time of Napoleon. It was loaned out by West Point for the recording. The bells are those of Riverside Church. Both the cannon and the bells are most impressive.

Emerson once said something along the lines of that it was a shame how little we really looked at the stars. If they only came out once in a thousand years we would think that the city of heaven had suddenly appeared in the sky. Much the same can be said of the beauty and nobility of these pieces on this recording.

Get it. I recommend it highly.

This is it! Besides presenting an opportunity to hear Napolean defeated on two fronts, this recording is the definitive "Wellington's Victory" as Beethoven would have recorded it if he had the technology. Other versions may have crisper fanfares, more accurate articulation, state-of-the-art recording techniques, but they lack the excitement of the real cannon, muskets, and carillon which Beethoven and Tchaikovsky indicated on their scores. I purchased the 1960 LP when I was in high school (which explains the top billing for the "Festival Overture 1812," which was the better known piece) and so decided on a newer recording for my CD purchase. What a shock! What a travesty!! Not only no muskets, the conductor used ratchets. RATCHETS!!! Beethoven wrote the "Battle Symphony" at the request of his good friend Johann Maelzel for his invention, the panharmonicon, a sort of forerunner to the synthesizer. Given Beethoven's offbeat sense of humor and willingness to embrace new technology, it seems that using ratchets rather than a synthesizer ... to approximate weapons fire in a modern recording would be more likely to cause him to roll over than anything Chuck Berry wrote. My only disappointment in this CD is that the surface noise of the master tape was not removed, and is so loud it competes with the pianissimo of the British and French cadences heard as the drummers move from the distance to the front. Still, this the one to buy to fully experience Beethoven's and Tchaikovsky's visions.

There is no experience quite like the sound of actual cannon and musket fire during an orchestral piece. No percussion could truly duplicate the effect; the first cannon shot jolts you to attention, leaving you riveted to the work from then on.

It's a deceptive work, the 1812. The beginning, like the prelude to most battles, is quiet, peaceful - and, to be honest, it remains so through most of the work. It builds up slowly until the battle is around you, cannon shots and trumpets blaring. The bells were simply jaw-dropping; the richness of the tone has to be heard to be believed.

I wasn't familiar with the Wellington piece before this; it serves as a good companion to the 1812, if more straightforward. The descriptions of what it took to make the cannon and musket fire are fascinating; however, I can't help but feel distracted by them, as the final product is far more engrossing. At any rate, none of the music in here disappoints; the producers of this work went to remarkable lengths to make a top-quality record, and they succeeded admirably.

Final note: It is best if the first time you listen to this work is NOT in your vehicle while driving. The cannon will shock you the first time you hear it.

You absolutely have to buy this CD. I've listened to my copy hundreds of times and it never gets old. Antal Dorati masterfully leads the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra along with an authentic 1789 French cannon from Duoay, France, fired at West Point along with the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon for the bells.
This is incomparable. Don't let the date fool you. This 1950's recording sounds better than most recordings from the past decade. Get this CD. It'll be the best purchase you make.

This CD contains the most succesful performances of the famous battle musics. Especially 1812 Overture is amazing, terrific, impressive.

In this recording, they were used an original French Cannon made in 1770's and this cannon was used by Frenchs in 1812 war. And, (wowww!) what majestic, gorgeous sound of Bells! And also, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra is very good, especially brass section, even so they were played with Minnesota University Band (because of original version calls brass band)

And there is a brilliant work between two terrific battle musics, this is one of the best performances of "Capriccio italien" recorded with London Symphony Orchestra, very flamboyant, they feel the soul of Italian vivacious life.

And then, Beethoven and his Wellington's Victory, there is a battle music again scored for 2 cannons, muskets (or rattles) and large orchestra including 6 trumpets, side drums and tenor drums more than 5... Beethoven once again (also in Eroica Symphony), who completely feel the hate to Napoleon, written a gorgeous heroic music. This work divided into 2 parts. The first movement is the battle between Napoleon - Frenchs and Sir Arthur Wellesly - Englishs. This section is too exciting, it is the sounds of glorius cacophonic battle. And later, in 2nd movement, there is a victory symphony tells that the victory of English. Also, Beethoven used the English National Anthem as the 2nd theme of work. The finale is monumental.

Also, there are commentaries of Deems Taylor (you'll also remember from Walt Disney's Fantasia). The quality of sound is excellent.

In other words: this is essential, and a must have for any classical music lovers.
Highly recommended.

If you listen to this music you realize what a magnificent conductor Antal Dorati was. The festival overture is a real treat to the ear and it is really amazing that a recording of 1958 sounds so good (even better) in view of all digital recording of today. But first of all there's the love for the music, which carries it far above the mediocrity of most recent recordings. For one thing, it sounds military and that's not an open door, most other recordings lack that element. Listen to the Capriccio Italien under Bernstein, it's no more than a shadow of what Dorati accomplished. Dorati's performance has spirit and drive and the real cannon shots add the necessary flavor to it, but in essence the music does not really need them. In the Capriccio all sections of instruments are magnificent, but the brass section is really stunning, although the flute in the middle part is also rather breathtaking, fine and sturdy at the same time. Clarinet and flute talk to one another, they are not separate instruments, but really communicate. You need not search any further.

I owned the original record version. It saw better days, but when I saw the CD version, I hesitated, since some productions don't have the same depth as the album. This does, with great clarity. The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra's version of the Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture I think, with the canons is the best version of all. Don't hesitate to buy this, you won't be disappointed.