CD REVIEW
– GREAT COMEDY OVERTURES
by Hérold,
Nicolai, Wolf-Ferrari, Thomas,
von Reznicek, Flotow, Auber,
Lortzing, Cimarosa, Adam,
Cornelius
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
/ Lance Friedel
NAXOS
8.573418 79’ 44”
This, I’m
sure, should be an out and out
winner from Naxos – 80
minutes of tuneful, foot tapping
and exhilarating music mainly
from the 19th Century.
This generous collection of
comedy overtures range from those
mainly associated with the
concert hall, such as 'The
Merry Wives of Windsor' and 'Donna
Diana', to those indelibly
centred in days gone by with end
of the pier or park bandstands: 'Zampa',
'Fra Diavolo' and 'Si
j'étais roi' etc.
A particular
highlight is a superb rendition
of the fleet-footed, delicate and
all too brief overture that
Wolf-Ferrari penned for 'Susanna’s
Secret'.
The RNSO are under
the command of the American
conductor Lance Friedel and
played all this music with style
and to the manner born whilst the
recording is vivid with plenty of
presence caught in the excellent
acoustic of Glasgow’s Henry
Wood Hall.
An irresistible
bargain and surely there is
enough suitable material
available for a follow up album?
Roger Hyslop
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