Favourite Overtures

On this CD:

1. The Hebrides, overture in B minor for orchestra ("Fingal's Cave," 4 versions), Op. 26
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

2. Ruy Blas, overture in C minor for orchestra, Op. 95
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

3. Ein Morgen, ein Mittag, ein Abend in Wien (Morning Noon and Night in Vienna), operetta Overture
Composed by Franz von Suppe
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

4. Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, opera Overture
Composed by Otto Nicolai
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

5. Overture to La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder)
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

6. Overture to Guillaume Tell (William Tell)
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

7. Overture to La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie)
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

8. Overture to Semiramide
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

Tracks:

Die Walkure: The Ride Of The Valkyries
Lohengrin: Prelude Act I
Rienzi: Overture
Der fliegende Hollander: Overture
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude, Act I
Tannhauser: Overture
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude, Act I

Customer Reviews:

Very good..........2007-03-29

This album is a good one, but a very strange one too. Both orchestras under Solti, are simply astounding. All the pieces in this album are well played and are skilfully conducted by Solti.
Yet, the only reason why I gave it 3 stars, was for the mere reason that Ride of the Valkyries is an excerpt, don't get me wrong, it is extremely well played, yet, that fact that it is a 3+ minute excerpt is rather disappointing. Also, you may hear an awckward timpani entrance in Tannhauser, but that is no reason not to buy this album. Some may complain that Solti liked overblown brass, but in my experience as an orchestral player, for Wagner, you need brass, and no the brass is not overblown.
My other comment on this album is The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Hollander). Performed by the Vienna Phil. (Wiener Phil.), this performance is simply awesome. I still need to get the one with CSO, but as far as this goes, this track is simply awesome. I sincerely think if you do purchase this CD you will enjoy not only The Flying Dutchman, but the rest of the tracks as well. Enjoy!

Solti Speaks Wagnerian.......2002-10-25

I find this particular Solti interpretation of Tannhauser to be one of the best I've heard. The bold and brassy use of horns is both invigorating and unsettling. Thank you Maestro Solti for "painting" with a bold brush when required.

The reason I did not give this disc 5 stars, is because I also found the abbreviated 3 minute clip of The Ride of the Valkyries to be not only disappointing but also unacceptable.

Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg is vintage Solti. His interpretation is probably one of the standard measures for others to compare on this one.

The Rienzi Overture is well done. However, I believe most will find the version conducted by George Szell of the Cleveland Orchestra to be the best. Look for it in Sony's Essential Classics.

Most should find this CD a valuable addition to a basic collection of Wagner instrumentals and I recommend it highly.

Not really great playing..........2002-10-11

This in not a terrible disc but, if I had the chance, I would not buy it again. There is some pretty distasteful playing that goes on, especially in Tannhauser. Orchestral balance is way off in many places. Also, upon listening critically, one will discover some missed notes in Ride of the Valkries, and a very awkward timpani entrance in the first statement of the theme in Tannhauser. For the level that the CSO and VPO regularly perform at, this is really unacceptable. Another complaint with Die Walkure is that, for some odd reason, a three minute version is recorded instead of the five minute version that I am accustomed to. It seems like about a hundred or so bars of music are omitted.

If you like Solti and his approach to Wagner, you might want to give this a try. If not, there are better to be found.

Excellent.......2002-01-29

This CD quickly made it's way into my favourites collection. I'd have to say tracks 5 and 6 alone are worth the cost of the CD. On a scale of 1-5 stars, I'd say this is really a 6!

What a collection!.......1999-05-13

This is Wagner as it should be--conducted by one of the best and played by the two best orchestras in the world.

Viennese New Year: Favourite Waltzes, Polkas and Overtures

Average customer rating:

Viennese New Year: Favourite Waltzes, Polkas and Overtures

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B00000I7RX
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Overture To Die Fledermaus
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Mein Lebenslauf ist Lieb und Lust, Waltz, Op. 263
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Elyen A Magyar, Polka, Op. 332
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Voices Of Spring, Waltz, Op. 410
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Pizzicato Polka
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Perpetuum mobile, Musical Joke, Op. 257
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Jockey-Polka, Op. 278
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Wiener Blut, Waltz, Op. 354
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Die Libelle, Polka Mazurka, Op. 204
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Tales From The Vienna Woods, Waltz, Op. 325

Tracks:

Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Overture To The Gypsy Baron
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Emperor Waltz, Op. 437
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Auf Ferienreisen, Polka, Op. 133
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Roses From The South, Waltz, Op. 388
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Eingesendet, Polka, Op. 240
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Spharenklange, Waltz, Op. 235
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314
Favourite Waltzes, Polkas And Overtures: Radetsky March

Average customer rating:

Favourite Overtures [Australia]
Maazel , and Cleveland Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004VCWK
Release Date: 1999-03-29

Tracks:

La Forza Del Destino, Overture
Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus, Overture Op. 43
Le Carnaval Romain, Overture Op. 9
Ruslan And Lyudmila, Overture
Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
La Gazza Ladra, Overture
Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36
Cuban Overture

Average customer rating:

Beethoven, Brahms: Favourite Overtures
Beethoven
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00015EDBQ
Release Date: 1995-11-28

Tracks:

Fidelio, Op. 72
Creatures Of Prometheus, Op. 43
Coriolanus, Op. 62
Ruins Of Athens, Op. 113
Egmont, Op. 84
Leonora No. 3, Op. 72a
Tragic Overutures, Op. 81 - BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels
Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 - Alexander Rahbari

Average customer rating:

Favourite Overtures

Manufacturer: Polygram / Castle Communications
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000AZ6LW6

Product Description

Created by Moonlight Entertainment & Sales

Average customer rating:

Favourite Overtures

Manufacturer: Innov. Music Prod.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000TI1
Release Date: 1993-09-11

Tracks:

Le Corsaire, Op.21
Prince Igor
The Fair Melusine, Op.32
Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg
Academic Festival Overture, Op.80
Light Cavalry

Average customer rating:

Favourite Overtures

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00015EDC0
Release Date: 1995-11-28

Tracks:

The Hebrides - Overture (Fingal's Cave) - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Overture, Scherzo And Finale, Op. 52 - Johannes Wildner
Manfred, Op. 115 - Johannes Wildner
Der Freischutz - Alfred Walter
Euryanthe - Alfred Walter
Oberon - Alfred Walter
Carnival, Op. 92 - Stephen Gunzenhauser

Rossini, Beethoven, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky - Favourite Overtures vol. 1 - Charles Ansbacher

Average customer rating:

Rossini, Beethoven, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky - Favourite Overtures vol. 1 - Charles Ansbacher

Manufacturer: Art Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0007ZR96Q

Product Description

1. Rossini - La Gazza Landra 2. Rossini - La Cenerentola 3. Rossini - Barber of Seville 4. Berlioz - Roman Carnival 5. Beethoven - Coriolan Op. 62 6. Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet Fantasy. (5) Live performance in the Great Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky conservatory in February, 2002. (6) Live performance in the Great Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky conservatory in February, 2003. (1-4) Recorded in the Mosfilm Studio, Moscow, Russia in February, 2003.