Sonorous brandenburgs
Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane | Fife, Scotland | 01/30/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Boult modelled these accounts on Steinbach's Meiningen performances of the turn of the century, which he heard in London. He went for smooth, full sounds with a medium-sized orchestra, not an 'authentic' approach with a little band. With very distinguished soloists - David Munrow, Raymond Leppard, Valda Aveling, Rodney Friend - and lovely rhythmic spring and pointing, these are most enjoyable performances with the possible exception of No. 6, which sounds not heavy (none of this does) but a little muddy, with all those violas. The price is right, though, and the works sound very beautiful and alive."