Mercury, Philips and Decca recordings of orchestral pops conducted by the supremely versatile Sir Charles Mackerras, including a pair of Strauss overtures new to CD.
This newly remastered collection is completed by two more rarities from the conductor’s long relationship with the LSO: incisive accounts of the overtures to Die Fledermaus and Der Zigeunerbaron, recorded for Philips in 1965 and long unavailable in any format, but distinguished by playing out of the top drawer.
“Mackerras has a way with this music. His performances are spirited, and he elicits crisp, clean sounds from the orchestra … A most faithful recording, with exceptionally naturalistic, resinous sounds from the strings.” High Fidelity, February 1963 (‘Kaleidoscope’)
TRACK LIST
CD 1
JOHANN STRAUSS I (1804–1849)
Radetzky-Marsch
JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825–1899)
Die Fledermaus – Overture
Der Zigeunerbaron – Overture
JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833–1897)
Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 20* & 21*
JACQUES OFFENBACH (1819–1880)
Overture & Can-Can (Orphée aux enfers)
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893)
Cossack Dance (Mazeppa)
BEDŘICH SMETANA (1824–1884)
Dance of the Comedians (The Bartered Bride)
OTTO NICOLAI (1810–1849)
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor – Overture
CARL MARIA VON WEBER (1786–1826)
Abu Hassan – Overture
AMBROISE THOMAS (1811–1896)
Mignon – Overture
FRANZ VON SUPPÉ (1819–1895)
Banditenstreiche – Overture
CD 2
CARL MARIA VON WEBER (1786–1826)
Aufforderung zum Tanz
GIACOMO MEYERBEER (1791–1864)
Coronation March (Le Prophète)
MIKHAIL IVANOVICH GLINKA (1804–1857)
Jota Aragonesa (Caprice brillant)
London Symphony Orchestra
EDVARD GRIEG (1843–1907)
Two Elegiac Melodies*
Cowkeeper’s Tune & Country Dance*
Wedding Day at Troldhaugen*
JEAN SIBELIUS (1865–1957)
Valse triste
Elegy & Musette (King Christian Suite)
Entr’acte (Pelléas et Mélisande)
Finlandia, Op. 26
London Proms Symphony Orchestra
* FIRST CD RELEASE ON DECCA