[.ca] Howard Hanson Conducts Barber, Piston, Griffes, ...

Get Mercury Living Presence Before Its Dead:
When I first started collecting classical CDs, I only had a few Mercury Living Presence (MLP) titles. In my quest to get the absolute best, or at least a definitive recording, of the major works of the standard repertoire, MLP discs rarely topped the critics' lists. In fact, only three MLP recordings have been earmarked as "Essential Recordings" by Amazon.com -- Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Byron Janis performing Rachmaninov's 2nd & 3rd Piano Concertos, and Yehudi Menuhin performing Bartok's 2nd Violin Concerto, all three with Antal Dorati as conductor. It is also safe to say that three other titles are equally essential for their historical value alone. They are Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake by Dorati (the first recording of the complete ballet), Janis performing Liszt's Piano Concertos (the first recordings made in the Soviet Union by American technicians, musical staff and equipment), and Kubelik's Chicago Symphony performance of Pictures at an Exhibition (one of, if not the single best mono recording ever, and the one that led the New York Times critic to coin the phrase "Living Presence," from which the label named its series). But how does a CD line go from having a half-dozen must have recordings, to being this reviewer's all-time favorite classical label? The answer: consistently magical performances, captured in brilliant golden-age stereo sound, that offer a slightly different take on your typical interpretation of the great works. Of course, MLP also went to great lengths to feature music by more obscure composers, particularly contemporary Americans. While Dorati, and to a lesser extent Paray, recorded these lesser known works, Howard Hanson was their champion. On this set, Hanson and the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra showcase compositions by Barber, Piston (names I had heard prior to getting this disc), Griffes, Keenan, McCauley, and Bergsma (names I had never heard of before or since). While these are all virtually unknown compositions, Hanson performs them like they were from the classical canon. Maybe that is why collectors prize these recordings, because they are a breath of fresh air in a homogenized world of listening. Of course, collectors love a challenge too, and MLP CDs are becoming increasingly hard to find. It has taken years for me to finally find all of the MLP CDs released to date, and unfortunately I don't think there will be any new releases forthcoming. So collectors, and even those who aspire to be, should pick up as many Mercury Living Presence discs as possible now, before they all die.

A Prize full of great music:
I knew what I wanted in this CD, The work by Piston. My great amazement was discovering that short pieces by completely unknown composers were so really very good. This is a real GEM of a CD and I highly recommend it for the obscure works as well as the Piston and Griffes. I felt the sound of the orchestra was a little thin, strings were not lush but the rythmic intensity and commitment of the musicians was clearly there and Hanson certainly knows his way around this stuff. Grab it while you can still get it. Thanks Amazon!

• Capricorn Concerto, Op. 21: Allegro ma non troppo - Joseph Mariano, flute; Robert Sprenkle, oboe; Sidney Mear, trumpet
• Capricorn Concerto, Op. 21: Allegretto - Joseph Mariano, flute; Robert Sprenkle, oboe; Sidney Mear, trumpet
• Capricorn Concerto, Op. 21: Allegro con brio - Joseph Mariano, flute; Robert Sprenkle, oboe; Sidney Mear, trumpet
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Introduction - Siesta In The Market Place
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Entrance Of The Vendors
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Entrance Of The Customers
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Tango Of The Merchant's Daughters
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Arrival Of The Circus
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Circus March
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): The Flutist
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Minuet
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Spanish Waltz
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): (Eight O'Clock Strikes)
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Siciliano
• The Incredible Flutist (Ballet Suite): Polka Finale - Charles Mariano, Flute
• Poem For Flute And Orchestra - Joseph Mariano, Flute
• Three Pieces For Orchestra: Promenade - Francis Tursi, Viola; James Austin, Trumpet
• Three Pieces For Orchestra: Nocturne - Francis Tursi, Viola; James Austin, Trumpet
• Three Pieces For Orchestra: Il Campo Dei Fiori - Francis Tursi, Viola; James Austin, Trumpet
• Five Miniatures For Flute And Strings: Adventurous - Joseph Mariano, Flute
• Five Miniatures For Flute And Strings: Dolorous - Joseph Mariano, Flute
• Five Miniatures For Flute And Strings: Dextrous - Joseph Mariano, Flute
• Five Miniatures For Flute And Strings: Languorous
• Five Miniatures For Flute And Strings: Capricious - Joseph Mariano, Flute
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Siesta
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Parade
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Elegant Dance
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Furious Dance of the Bearded Russians
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Sinister Dance
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Chinese Dance
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Tender Dance
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Chase Music
• Gold and the Senor Commandante (Ballet Suite): Happy Dance