A belated thank you for your support, Antonio.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Various Composers - Ave Maria (José Carreras)


Information

  1. Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: "Hallelujah"
  2. Franck - Panis Angelicus (arr. Job Maarse)
  3. Stradella - Pietà, Signore (orch. Job Maarse)
  4. Álvarez - Prearia
  5. Schubert - German Mass, D. 872: "Heilig, heilig, heilig"
  6. Gounod - Ave Maria (after J.S. Bach's Prelude No. 1 BWV 846) (arr. Job Maarse)
  7. Bizet - Agnus Dei (arr. Job Maarse)
  8. Verdi - Quattro pezzi sacri (4 Sacred Pieces): 3. Laudi alla vergine Maria
  9. Gounod - Repentir (O Divine Redeemer)
  10. Bach - Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, cantata, BWV 147: 10. Choral: "Jesus bleibet meine Freude"

José Carreras, tenor
Vienna Boys' Choir
Chorus Viennensis
Michael G. Gormley, organ
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Uwe Christian Harrer, conductor
Date: 1983
Label: Philips
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4111382

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Review

There is as much energy as beauty in the singing throughout by José Carreras and the Vienna Boys Choir.

Religious solos and choral pieces front two centuries and at least four countries make Up the ten works on this disc. The Ave Maria of the disc title is Gounod's meditation on Bach's first Prelude from the 48, and its lyrical style is typical of the programme's content. The "Hallelujah" Chorus from Handel's Messiah is the only declamatory item, yet there is as much energy as beauty in the singing throughout by José Carreras and the Vienna Boys Choir (joined by 'old boys' of the Chorus Viennensis in two choruses). Compact Disc quality is excellent and the balance of choir and orchestra in fairly reverberant surroundings is just about right, with the tenor rather closer.

-- John Borwick, Gramophone [8/1984]

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José Carreras (born 5 December 1946 in Barcelona) is a Catalan tenor who is particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini. He has a career that encompassed over 60 roles, performed in the world's leading opera houses and in numerous recordings. Carreras gained fame with a wider audience as one of the Three Tenors along with Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. In its prime, Carreras's voice was considered one of the most beautiful tenor voices of the day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Carreras

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Thursday, November 26, 2015

Various Composers - Opera Intermezzzi (Herbert von Karajan)


Information
  1. Verdi - La Traviata: Prelude to Act 3
  2. Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo sinfonico
  3. Puccini - Suor Angelica: Intermezzo
  4. Leoncavallo - Pagliacci: Intermezzo from Act 1
  5. Mussorgsky - Khovanshchina: Intermezzo from Act 4
  6. Puccini - Manon Lescaut: Intermezzo from Act 3
  7. Schmidt - Notre Dame: Intermezzo
  8. Massenet - Thais: M'editation (Intermezzo from Act 2)
  9. Giordano - Fedora: Intermezzo from Act 2
  10. Cilea - Adriana Lecouvreur: Intermezzo from Act 2
  11. Wolf-Ferrari - I gioielli della Madonna: Intermezzo from Act 3
  12. Mascagni - L'amico Fritz: Intermezzo from Act 3

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Date: 1967
label: Deutsche Grammophon
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/cat/4777163

"The conductor shows his mastery of phrase and idiom immediately in the opening La Traviata Prelude which is beautifully done, and the same poise gives distinction to the famous Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo and indeed the Puccini items. Where high drama is called for, as in the music of the verismo school, Karajan rises to the occasion and one can hear the resin sizzle as those Berlin string bows bite."

-- Stereo Record Guide

More reviews:

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Herbert von Karajan (5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 35 years. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century. He made a large number of recordings and was the top-selling classical music recording artist of all time, having sold an estimated 200 million records. He was admired and also criticized for his over polished sound of the orchestras he conducted.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Various Composers - Favourite Choruses


Information
  1. Verdi - Nabucco, opera, Act III: "Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate" (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) - Riccardo Muti
  2. Puccini - Madama Butterfly, opera, Act II: Humming Chorus - John Barbirolli
  3. Handel - Messiah: "Hallelujah" - Charles Mackerras
  4. Verdi - Requiem: "Dies irae"... "Tuba mirum" - Riccardo Muti
  5. Mozart - Requiem: "Confutatis maledictis" - Carlo Maria Giulini
  6. Berlioz - L'enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ), oratorio: "L'adieu des bergers" (The Shepherds' Farewell) - André Cluytens
  7. Wagner - Lohengrin, opera, Act III: "Treulich geführt" (Bridal Chorus) - Bernard Haitink
  8. Brahms - A German Requiem: "Selig sind, die da Leid tragen" - Herbert von Karajan
  9. Verdi - Il trovatore, opera, Act II: "Vedi le fosche" (Anvil Chorus) - Riccardo Muti
  10. Fauré - Requiem: "In Paradisum" - Daniel Barenboim
  11. Gounod - Faust, opera, Act IV: "Gloire immortelle" (Soldiers' Chorus) - Michel Plasson
  12. Wagner - The Flying Dutchman, opera, Act III: "Johohoe!" - Otto Klemperer
  13. Mozart - The Magic Flute, opera, Act II: "O Isis und Osiris" (Priests' Chorus) - Bernard Haitink
  14. Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana, opera: "Regina coeli"... "Ineggiamo" (Easter Hymn) - Bernard Haitink
  15. Bizet - Carmen, opera, Act I: "Avec la garde montante" - Thomas Beecham
  16. Verdi - Aida, opera, Act II: "Gloria all'Egitto" (Triumphal Scene and Grand March) - Riccardo Muti
Date: 2001
Label: EMI


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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Various Composers - Opera Album 2011


Information

CD1:
  1. Bizet - Carmen: "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" (Toreador's Song) - Bryn Terfel
  2. Puccini - La Bohème: "Quando me'n vò" (Musette's Waltz) - Anna Netrebko
  3. Puccini - Tosca: "E lucevan le stelle" - Andrea Bocelli
  4. Handel - Rinaldo, HWV 7a: "Lascia ch'io pianga" - Cecilia Bartoli
  5. Leoncavallo - Pagliacci: "Recitar!" - "Vesti la giubba" - Jonas Kaufmann
  6. Catalani - La Wally: "Ebben? Ne andrò lontana" - Angela Gheorghiu
  7. Verdi - Il Trovatore: "Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie" (Anvil Chorus)
  8. Offenbach - Les Contes d'Hoffmann: "Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour" - Joan Sutherland & Huguette Tourangeau
  9. Verdi - Rigoletto: "La donna è mobile" - Carlo Bergonzi
  10. Bizet - Carmen: "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Habanera) - Tatiana Troyanos
  11. Puccini - Madama Butterfly: "Coro a bocca chiusa" (Humming Chorus)
  12. Handel - Xerxes, HWV 40: "Ombra mai fù" (Handel's Largo) - Andreas Scholl
  13. Bizet - Les pêcheurs de perles: "Au fond du temple saint" (The Pearl Fishers' Duet) - Luciano Pavarotti & Nicolai Ghiaurov
  14. Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia: "Una voce poco fa" - Teresa Berganza
  15. Verdi - La traviata: "Libiamo ne'lieti calici (Brindisi) - Ileana Cotrubas & Plácido Domingo
  16. Saint-Saëns - Samson et Dalila: "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix" - Marilyn Horne
  17. Dvořák - Rusalka, Op. 114: "Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém" - Pilar Lorengar
  18. Verdi - Il Trovatore: "Di quella pira" - José Carreras
  19. Verdi - La traviata: "Follie! Delirio vano è questo!" - "Sempre libera" - Kiri Te Kanawa & Alfredo Kraus
  20. Puccini - Turandot: "Nessun dorma!" - Luciano Pavarotti
CD2:
  1. Gounod - Roméo et Juliette: "Ah, je veux vivre dans ce reve" - Renée Fleming
  2. Bizet - Carmen: "La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" (Flower Song) - Plácido Domingo
  3. Puccini - Tosca: "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore" - Kiri Te Kanawa
  4. Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia: "Largo al factotum" - Leo Nucci
  5. Puccini - La Bohème: "Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì" - Angela Gheorghiu
  6. Verdi - Rigoletto: "Questa o quella" - Rolando Villazón
  7. Gounod - Faust: "Déposons les armes" (Soldiers' Chorus)
  8. Donizetti - L'elisir d'amore: "Una furtiva lagrima" - Juan Diego Flórez
  9. Bizet - Carmen: "Les tringles des sistres tintaient" - Edwige Parat, Claire Delgado-Boge & Magdalena Kozená
  10. Mozart - Die Zauberflöte, K. 620: "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja" - Hermann Prey
  11. Puccini - Turandot: "Signore, ascolta" - Montserrat Caballé
  12. Verdi - Nabucco: "Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate" (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves)
  13. Delibes - Lakmé: "Viens, Mallika, ... Dôme épais" (Flower Duet) - Joan Sutherland & Jane Berbié
  14. Verdi - Aida: "Celeste Aida" - Luciano Pavarotti
  15. Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30: "Che farò senza Euridice?" - Andreas Scholl
  16. Mozart - Don Giovanni, K. 527: "Là ci darem la mano" - Mirella Freni & Ingvar Wixell
  17. Puccini - La Rondine: "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" (Doretta's Dream Song) - Renata Tebaldi
  18. Offenbach - La belle Hélène: "Au mont Ida" - "Le jugement de Paris" - Joseph Calleja
  19. Mozart - Die Zauberflöte, K. 620: "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" (Queen of the Night's Aria) - Patricia Petibon
  20. Wagner - Tristan und Isolde: "Mild und leise wie er lächelt" (Isoldes Liebestod) - Birgit Nilsson

Date: 2011
Label: Decca
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4782947

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Review

Decca's two-disc set Opera Album 2011 collects performances from the late 20th and early 21st centuries by some of the leading singers of their time. There are hardly any singers represented who aren't superstars, so the quality of the performances is often spectacular. In addition to those pictured on the cover, the artists include classic performers Joan Sutherland, Birgit Nilsson, Plácido Domingo, and Hermann Prey; today’s stars, such as Angela Gheorghiu, Rolando Villazón, and Jonas Kaufmann; and more.

The selections are mostly arias, but several ensembles and choruses are included. The repertoire is weighted very heavily to 19th century Italian opera; two arias each by Handel and Mozart are included, and there are only two in German, but Bizet is well-represented, with five tracks. The accompanying orchestras and conductors are top-notch, and all the recordings come from the stereo or digital eras, so the sound is almost always good. The program notes cite the original recordings from which the selections were taken, making it easy for interested listeners to hear more of particular opera or singer. The album makes a good investment for anyone looking for a collection of operatic selections from the standard repertoire, beautifully performed and recorded.

-- Stephen Eddins, AllMusic

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Monday, November 23, 2015

Various Composers - 40 Most Beautiful Arias


Information

CD1:
  1. Puccini - Turandot: "Nessun dorma!" - Plácido Domingo
  2. Bizet - Carmen: "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Habanera) - Julia Migenes
  3. Donizetti - L'elisir d'amore: "Una furtiva lagrima" - Roberto Alagna
  4. Bizet - Carmen: "Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante" (Micaëla's aria) - Angela Gheorghiu
  5. Bizet - Les pêcheurs de perles: "Au fond du temple saint" (The Pearl Fishers' Duet) - Jerry Hadley & Thomas Hampson
  6. Handel - Xerxes, HWV 40: "Ombra mai fù" (Handel's Largo) - Jennifer Larmore
  7. Purcell - Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626: "When I am laid in earth" (Dido's Lament) - Véronique Gens
  8. Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro: "Voi che sapete" - Cecilia Bartoli
  9. Mozart - Così fan tutte: "Soave sia il vento" - Kiri Te Kanawa & Frederica von Stade
  10. Saint-Saëns - Samson et Dalila: "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix" - Olga Borodina & José Cura
  11. Massenet - Werther: "Pourquoi me réveiller?" - Jerry Hadley & Anne Sofie von Otter
  12. Verdi - Rigoletto: "La donna è mobile" - Richard Leech
  13. Dvořák - Rusalka, Op. 114: "Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém" - Eva Urbanová
  14. Puccini - Madama Butterfly: "Un bel dì vedremo" - Cristina Gallardo-Domâs
  15. Puccini - Manon Lescaut: "Donna non vidi mai" - José Cura
  16. Verdi - La traviata: "Libiamo ne'lieti calici (Brindisi) - Neil Shicoff & Edita Gruberová
  17. Puccini - Tosca: "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore" - Kiri Te Kanawa
  18. Puccini - La Bohème: "Che gelida manina" - José Carreras
  19. Puccini - La Bohème: "Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì" - Barbara Hendricks
  20. Puccini - La Bohème: "O soave fanciulla" - José Carreras & Barbara Hendricks
CD2:
  1. Puccini - Gianni Schicchi: "O mio babbino caro" - Cristina Gallardo-Domâs
  2. Catalani - La Wally: "Ebben? Ne andrò lontana" - Cristina Gallardo-Domâs
  3. Offenbach - Les Contes d'Hoffmann: "Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour" - Jennifer Larmore & Hei-Kyung Hong
  4. Bizet - Carmen: "La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" (Flower Song) - Plácido Domingo
  5. Puccini - Turandot: "Signore, ascolta" - Kiri Te Kanawa
  6. Verdi - La Traviata:  "Un dì, felice, eterea" - Neil Shicoff & Edith Gruberova
  7. Delibes - Lakmé: "Viens, Mallika, ... Dôme épais" (Flower Duet) - Jennifer Larmore & Hong Hei-Kyung
  8. Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro: "Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro" - Lella Cuberli
  9. Mozart - Don Giovanni, K. 527: "Dalla sua pace" - Hans Peter Blochwitz
  10. Bellini - Norma: "Casta diva" - Maria Callas
  11. Handel - Rinaldo, HWV 7a: "Lascia ch'io pianga" - Marilyn Horne
  12. Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30: "J’ai perdu mon Euridice" - Susan Graham
  13. Mozart - Die Zauberflöte, K. 620: "Bei Männern welche Liebe fühlen" - Rosa Mannion & Anton Scharinger
  14. Verdi - Aida: "Celeste Aida" - Plácido Domingo
  15. Puccini - La Rondine: "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" (Doretta's Dream Song) - Kiri Te Kanawa
  16. Giordano - Fedora: "Amor ti Vieta" - Plácido Domingo
  17. Lehár - Die lustige Witwe: "Es lebt' eine Vilja, ein Waldmägdelein" (Vilja-lied) - Karita Mattila
  18. Puccini - Tosca: "E lucevan le stelle" - Plácido Domingo
  19. Verdi - Otello: "Ave Maria" - Cristina Gallardo-Domâs
  20. Rossini - La Cenerentola: "Non piu mesta" - Jennifer Larmore

Date: 2006
Label: Warner Classics

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Review

As an introduction to opera that really covers the basics, Warner's 40 Most Beautiful Arias is a terrific package to give to beginners, though aficionados of the vocal arts may find some sparkling gems here, too. The selections are drawn from the most popular works in the repertoire, such as Le nozze di Figaro, Carmen, La bohème, and La Traviata, and examples from the operas of Mozart, Bizet, Puccini, Verdi, and other masters of the genre combine to make this a well-rounded and satisfying program. The performers are representative of the best in the field, and such world-renowned stars as Plácido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, José Carreras, Barbara Hendricks, Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, and Jennifer Larmore, among many other great singers, lend this double-disc compilation an attractive luster. About the only complaint that can be made about this collection is the occasional variability of sound quality, which is usually clear and present, but sometimes a bit distant or out of balance; this can be expected in any survey of performances recorded on various dates between 1950 and 2001, with analog or digital reproduction, and at numerous venues from around the globe. But this really takes nothing away from the many musical riches this twofer offers, and most listeners will find the best-sounding arias outweigh the problems of the few hazy historical tracks.

-- Blair Sanderson, AllMusic

More reviews:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Most-Beautiful-Arias-Various-Artists/dp/B000IFSDAG
http://www.amazon.com/40-Most-Beautiful-Arias-2cd/dp/B0012908F0

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Sunday, November 22, 2015

Tomaso Albinoni - 12 Concertos Op. 9; Adagio for organ & strings (Felix Ayo; Heinz Holliger)


Information

Composer: Tomaso Albinoni

CD1:
  • (01-03) Concerto for violin, strings, & continuo in B flat major, Op. 9 No. 1
  • (04-06) Concerto for oboe, strings, & continuo in D minor, Op. 9 No. 2
  • (07-09) Concerto for 2 oboes, strings, & continuo in F major, Op. 9 No. 3
  • (10-12) Concerto for violin, strings, & continuo in A major, Op. 9 No. 4
  • (13-15) Concerto for oboe, strings, & continuo in C major, Op. 9 No. 5
  • (16-18) Concerto for 2 oboes, strings, & continuo in G major, Op. 9 No. 6
CD2:
  • (01-03) Concerto for violin, strings, & continuo in D major, Op. 9 No. 7
  • (04-06) Concerto for oboe, strings, & continuo in G minor, Op. 9 No. 8
  • (07-09) Concerto for 2 oboes, strings, & continuo in C major, Op. 9 No. 9
  • (10-12) Concerto for violin, strings, & continuo in F major, Op. 9 No. 10: 1
  • (13-15) Concerto for oboe, strings, & continuo in B flat major, Op. 9 No. 11
  • (16-18) Concerto for 2 oboes, strings, & continuo in D major, Op. 9 No. 12
  • (19) Adagio for organ & strings in G minor (arr. Remo Giazotto)

Felix Ayo, violin
Heinz Holliger, oboe
Maurice Bourgue, oboe II
Maria Teresa Garatti, harpsichord & organ
I Music, ensemble
Date: 1960 (Adagio), 1967
Label: Philips
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4563332

More info & reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Albinoni-Complete-Concertos-Op-9/dp/B0000041NC

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Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni (8 June 1671 – 17 January 1751) was an Italian Baroque composer. While famous in his day as an opera composer, he is mainly remembered today for his instrumental music, such as the concertos, some of which are regularly recorded. He is the first Italian known to employ the oboe as a solo instrument in concerti. He is also known for the "Adagio in G minor" which is by some thought to be a musical hoax composed by Remo Giazotto.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomaso_Albinoni

***

Felix Ayo (born 1933, Sestao) is a Spanish-Basque born, naturalised Italian, violinist. He is renowned as a founder of the Italian ensemble I Musici; as an internationally renowned violinist, who is often a soloist, and is a performer of chamber music; as a teacher; and as a recording artist with a career that has spanned more than fifty years. Ayo plays a G.B. Guadagnini violin made in 1744.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Ayo

***

Heinz Holliger (born 21 May 1939 in Langenthal) is a Swiss oboist, composer and conductor. He is one of the world's most celebrated oboists, and many composers such as Olivier Messiaen, Luciano Berio and Elliott Carter have written works for him. Holliger studied composition with Sándor Veress and Pierre Boulez. He has composed many works in a variety of media. Many of his works have been recorded for the ECM label.

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Saturday, November 14, 2015

Sergei Lyapunov - Symphony No. 2 (Evgeny Svetlanov) mp3


Information

Composer: Sergei Lyapunov
  1. Symphony No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 66: I. Largo - Allegro moderato
  2. Symphony No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 66: II. Scherzo (Allegro vivace)
  3. Symphony No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 66: III. Adagio
  4. Symphony No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 66: IV. Finale

Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor

Date: 1998
Label: Naïve


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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Ludwig van Beethoven - 1812 Overture; Capriccio Italien; Wellington's Victory (Antal Doráti)


Information

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Ludwig van Beethoven
  1. Tchaikovsky - 1812 Festival Overture, Op. 49
  2. Commentary to the 1812 Overture / sound effects / bells
  3. Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
  4. Beethoven - Wellington's Victory, Op. 91: I. Battle
  5. Beethoven - Wellington's Victory, Op. 91: II. Victory Symphony
  6. Commentary to Wellington's Victory / sound effects

University of Minnesota Brass Band (1)
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (1, 3)
London Symphony Orchestra (4, 5)
Antal Doráti, conductor
Date: 1955 (3), 1958 (1), 1960 (4, 5)
Label: Mercury
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4343602

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Review


Although not normally given to fits of nostalgia, I have to confess that this CD found me beaming back to my teenage years, poised between the two modest speakers of a Bush record player and eager for an aural bombardment. Both battle pieces incorporate cannon fire recorded at West Point, with Wellington's Victory adding antiphonal muskets and 1812, the University of Minnesota Brass Band and the bells of the Laura Spelman Rockefeller carillon. In a recorded commentary on the 1812 sessions, Deems Taylor explains how, prior to 'battle', roads were blocked and an ambulance crew put on standby. The actual weapons used were chosen both for their historical authenticity (period instruments of destruction) and their sonic impact, the latter proving formidable even today. In fact, the crackle and thunder of Wellington's Victory could easily carry a DDD endorsement; perhaps we should, for the occasion, invent a legend of Daring, Deafening and potentially Deadly.

Dorati's conducting is brisk, incisive and appropriately dramatic. 1812 in particular (Dorati's second Minneapolis recording of the piece for Mercury) suggests a rare spontaneity, with a fiery account of the main 'conflict' and a tub-thumping peroration where bells, band, guns and orchestra conspire to produce one of the most riotous key-clashes in gramophone history. Capriccio italien was recorded some three years earlier (1955, would you believe) and sounds virtually as impressive. Again, the approach is crisp and balletic, whereas the 1960 LSO Beethoven recording (originally coupled with excellent versions of the overtures Prometheus and Leonore No. 3) triumphs by dint of its energy and orchestral discipline.

As 'fun' CDs go, this must surely be one of the best – provided you can divorce Mercury's aural militia from the terrifying spectre of real conflict (such as we see almost daily via the media). Wilma Cozart Fine has masterminded an astonishingly effective refurbishment while the documentation – both written and recorded – is extremely comprehensive.

-- Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/tchaikovsky-1812-festival-overture-capriccio-italien-beethoven-wellingtons-victory-mw0001805041
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tchaikovsky-Festival-Capriccio-Beethoven-Wellingtons/dp/B0000057MW
http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Festival-Capriccio-Beethoven-Wellingtons/dp/B0000057MW

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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (25 April/7 May 1840 – 25 October/6 November 1893) was a Russian composer who wrote some of the most popular music in the classical repertoire. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Despite his many popular successes, Tchaikovsky's life was punctuated by personal crises and depression. His homosexuality considered a major factor.

***

Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most famous and influential of all composers, and a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 7 concertos and 32 piano sonatas.

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Antal Doráti (9 April 1906 – 13 November 1988) was a Hungarian-born conductor and composer who became a naturalized American citizen in 1943. Over the course of his career Doráti made over 600 recordings, mostly for Mercury and Decca. Doráti became especially well known for his recordings of Tchaikovsky's music. He was the first conductor to record all three of Tchaikovsky's ballets and "1812" Overture.

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