Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure, Unrestrained JOY..., February 26, 2003
I bought this CD beause I'm working on collecting the Mercury Catalog, and when I bought it, I paid no attention to what the actual pieces were because I had no idea who Suppe was or what his overtures were.I can't tell you how happy I was when I was surprised upon first listening... Not only is this music the type of music that is inherent to people from its use in background music to cartoons, TV, movies, etc... but it is so very enjoyable because it exhudes an amazing, unadulterated amount of PURE JOY and EXCITEMENT... with no attempt at being high-brow, or overly serious music. The good news is that even though this music might be considered to be more "common" among classical elitists, Paul Paray treated it as he would any great art. This recording gives you such beautifully refined sound, such truly INCREDIBLE energy and exhuberence, all with stunning precision and control- that you will be sold upon first hearing. As other reviews mention- there is no need to look at other recordings of these works, because you will mosy likely get a cheap "pops" orchestra recording that treats the music cheaply beacause of its unabashed "happiness" and accesibility. The result is fun, but trite and gets old fast. With this Paray, the energy seems to remain fresh every time you play it. You can't go wrong with this orchestral uplifter to cleanse your palate between your serious Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Mahler symphonies. So, elitsts... forget your pride and buy these CDs. Fun is not a crime. And, beginners, this is a GREAT way to find how truly fun and emotive classical music can be. Enjoy it.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Primo Paray, June 2, 1999
Since these came out in a couple of stunning albums in the late 50s, early 60s, just about every other conductor has stayed out of this Paray territory, knowing there is no way anyone could have acheived such superior results with material of not the highest inspiration.Paray's control over the orchestra is almost rhapsodic: there's a unity and confident virtuosity that can go anywhere, do anything, and make unapproachable classics of everything. The sound Paray elicits from the Detroit strings is lean and luminous, like a ray of bright light shining through an open cathedral window. Wilma Cozart got some of her best sound in Detroit Cass High School auditorium for at least part of this presentation. She re-presents it on CD with all the excitement and polish intact. An outstanding reissue from Mercury here that continues to rule the field.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A few more words, June 5, 2002
I don't know why I'm being castigated by a reviewer down the way for not putting Auber and Suppe up there with Franck and Schumann. Does he equate Wolff-Ferrari with Verdi, Benda with Dvorak? I don't understand the reference to Bugs Bunny either, and he was one of my favorites.One of the endearing qualities of Paul Paray as an artist was that he felt there were quite a few things other than masterpieces that audiences would love and hold close to their hearts. He felt it about Auber and Suppe, and he gives his genius to every one of these delightful works. The results are historic and spectacular. I also don't know where more refined performances are: no catalog listings now or in old Schwann give any indication what or where they were/are. I'm pretty confident that with all the uninspired drivel leaked on these works (Solti is an example) no treasure is lurking out or under there. I would suggest that if you still keep vinyl, a giddy old London issue with that delightful old man Albert Wolff and the Conservatoire Orchestra is well worth ferreting out and enjoying in a fine Suppe selection. Sound and orchestral playing are not the long suit here . . . but then again, Wolff, the self-effacing old devil, would always defer to the genius of others. In doing so, he developed his own. But it's not up the stairs as far as the top landing where Paray has his chair. Do replace your aging vinyl or bad cassette issues of these Auber and Suppe delights courtesy of the great Paray.
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