[.ca] Ovts

From Amazon.co.uk:
Although there are over three dozen operas to choose from, collections of Rossini overtures usually feature the half dozen "usual suspects", plus one or two rarities to make up playing time. The present disc is slightly different: true, there's the evergreen Barber of Seville and sparkling Italiana in Algeri, but no William Tell or Thieving Magpie. You do get the melodious Tancredi overture and unusual Turco in Italia--much more a foretaste of the opera than is customary. Add the short but witty Silken Ladder and Signor Bruschino curtain-raisers, plus the virtually unknown Inganno felice and Cambiale di matrimonio, both worth reviving, and you've got a refreshingly different cross-section. There's also the rarely-heard Introduction, Theme and Variations, featuring the ingratiating tones of Charles Neidich's clarinet. As on all their discs, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra play without a conductor, but the results lack nothing in verve or suavity. So put the war-horses out to grass for once, and give their well-planned selection a go. --Richard Whitehouse

Well played technically ,but...:
I have two major issues with this cd: 1) why was the William Tell overture omitted? Anyone who has heard it in its 12 minute entirety cannot help but be impressed. It's one of the best, if not the best, overture Rossini wrote. Listen to Gardelli or Chailly conduct this overture in their respective versions of the entire opera. 2) I enjoy Orpheus and admire their technique, but at times they can sound a bit too mechanical. In this issue, I found that they were unable to convey some of Rossini's playfulness,warmth and humor. So with all due respect, I cannot share the enthusiasm of others regarding this disc.

Outstanding CD:
The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra plays these pieces better than they have ever been played. The performance is astoundingly clean. The recording is exemplary. The price is almost criminally low. Why Deutsche Grammophon took this out of print in the first place is a mystery. The fact that they've reissued it at midprice is a GIFT to the civilized world. The same could be said of their reissue of Emerson doing the Dvorak 12th quartet, Tchaikovsky 1st, and Borodin 2d quartets. The BEST part of this CD is that the performances are using ORIGINAL orchestrations--orchestrations that have inexplicably fallen out of practice in concert performances of the overtures--that let Rossini's humor in the pieces shine through (e.g. piccolo rather than flute in Italiana in Algeri). Even if you have a recording of Rossini overtures, this one uses the original orchestrations, includes some rarer overtures, and has the clarinet bonus track, and I guarantee the performances are better than any ever recorded. In sum, buy this CD now and be glad for the rest of your life that you did.

One of the Greatest Living Orchestras in the World:
Open your mind and strap on your classical thrill belt! This orchestra is one of the greatest groups in the modern clasical circuit. One amazing factor in their success is that they have NO CONDUCTOR! Their perfomances are innovative, well articulated, and very energetic. The phrasing is outstanding. This group plays very precisely and uniformly. The balance is incredible! I cannot say enough about this orchestra--see for yourself. You will not be disappointed! Buy this CD- it's the best recording of Rossini I think I'll ever be graced to hear on modern instruments. Orpheus is God's fresh gift to the humdrum of stale ensembles. What a great price, too!

A must buy!:
You would like this CD before you have even bought it. The clarinet player is just great. It is a great orchestration and the sound quality is great. I have nothing bad to say about the CD. Don't take my word for it just buy it. Are you trippin'! Buy this CD jigga'!

• Tancredi
• L'italiana in Algeri
• L'inganno felice
• La scala di seta
• Il barbiere di Siviglia
• Il Signor Bruschino
• La cambiale di matrimonio
• Il turco in Italia
• Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major: Andante (sostenuto
• Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major: Tema (Allegretto)
• Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major: Var - I Piu mosso
• Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major: Var - II
• Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major: Var - III
• Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major: Var - IV: Largo minore - Piu mosso - A tempo
• Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major: Var - V: Maggiore