Keith Lockhart Bill Whelan Ferde Grofe - Encore Lockhart Boston Pops (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

The Boston Pops at Their Best!!

Shannon Hurst | usa | 07/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This has got to be the best orchestral CD I have ever purchased! My intent for buying the CD was not because of the Pops themselves (I wasn't very familiar with them or Keith Lockhart at the time), but my orchestra had played two of the songs on the CD so I thought it would have been neat to have a professional recording of them. A couple months later, here I am, I know how each one of the songs go, it never leaves my CD player unless I go somewhere (it goes too) and let me tell you Mr. Lockhart is a hottie- whether he knows it or not! Only because of this Cd, (and watching Pops Goes the Fourth) I have bought every other Boston Pops CD conducted by Keith Lockhart. They are outstanding musicians and this is the best "greatest hits so far" CD. It has pretty much 2 songs from each past CD- Tracks 1 and 4 from Runnin' Wild; Tracks 2 and 5 from The Celtic Album; Tracks 3 and 8 from American Visions; Tracks 6 and 9 from Holiday Pops; and tracks 7 and 10 from A Splash of Pops. Track 11 is Keith's introduction to Long Live the King and Track 12 is, obviously, Long Live the King-A Tribute to Elvis which has never been released before. And it's pretty sad I knew all of that without having to look at the CD case, huh? That just shows you how well put together this CD is, with a mix of everything for everyone. From the slow, beautiful "Magh Scola" ("The Level Plain") to "American Patrol" back to "A Hymn to New England" (written by former Boston Pops conductor and composer to just about every famous movie their is John Williams) and of course, their trademark "Stars and Stripes Forever", this CD is perfect for anyone with a love of classical music, or the Boston Pops Orchestra. And their tuba player better watch out- I am definetly going to replace him soon :)"

The Best of the Best

Shannon Hurst | 07/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Keith Lockhart does it again. All of America's favorites on one album plus a tribute to the King. It goes to show what a wonderful and masterful conductor Keith is and what a great orchestra the BSO is. Their finest album with Keith thus far. He truly is one of the best conductors in the business. I highly recommend this to everyone who loves the spirit of the Pops. It's superb all around."

"performances of past Pops from Lockhart"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 03/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart presents an "Encore" performance of past selections from their "Runnin' Wild" (1996) - "American Visions" (1997) - "Celtic Album" (1998) - "Celtic Wave" (1998) a solid sampler of RCA Victor artists playing Celtic/Irish selections, skillfully balancing New Age and Traditional Irish Music giving the listener a real treat of both - "Splash of Pops" (1999) captures the Fourth of July Live Concert.From "Riverdance" to "The Stars and Stripes Forever", Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra in a joyous parade of their most recent hits, plus a special never before released bonus track: a live recording of their crowd pleasing "Long Live the King! A Tribute to Elvis", please note that the crash you hear as the audience begins to sing is a tray dropping on the floor of Symphony Hall, and not the jaws of some of our more conservative listeners!Total Time: 49:14 on 12 Tracks/ RCA Victor Records - 09026 63662 2 (2000)"

Pleasant but superficial and perhaps superfluous

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 03/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Boston Pops, the old one under Fiedler I mean, was a lot of fun. The RCA LPs always had Fiedler in some silly costume and usually ran very short sides so that you were lucky to get as much as 20 minutes of music on each side. But that last aspect is not a very good thing on a CD, which can hold up to 79 minutes. So I began to be annoyed with the RCA Victor (09026-63662-2), the cover of which shows conductor Keith Lockhart in three silly costumes, when I saw it timed at 49:14 minutes. But if the meal is good, don't complain about the small portions. Unless the chief is dishing up reheated meals from earlier in the week. This is one of those "Best of..." programs, culled from former releases of the Boston Pops under Mr. Lockhart--which means if you bought most or all of them, you have no need for this CD at all. Cuts 1-10 give us the overly familiar "Doodletown Fifers," "Sleigh Ride," and Bizet's "Farandole" along with the lovely "A Hymn to New England" by John Williams and an almost parodic version of the "Riverdance" theme. As "bonus," you get a recording premier of a musical tribute to Elvis. Except for the "Riverdance," it is all very nicely played with that Boston Pops superficial flair that came after Fiedler left; and it might serve as a good introduction to this group under this conductor for those who have none of the earlier recordings."

KEITH STILL HAS A LOCK ON OUR HEARTS

Alan W. Petrucelli | THE ENTERTAINMENT REPORT (ALAN W. PETRUCELLI) | 01/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Everything old is new again. Or perhaps that's what the marketing big-wigs at RCA were thinking when they decided that latest CD by Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra should simply be a "greatest hits" package -- selections culled from Lockhart's five previously released CDs. It's a gimmick that works, since those tracks chosen are truly the best of the best: "Riverdance" and "Magh Scola" from the Grammy-nominated "The Celtic Album;" "Sleigh Ride" and "Farandole" from "Holiday Pops;" "The Stars and Stripes Forever" from "A Splash of Pops." To add a bit of freshness, the closes with "Long Live the King!" a medley of Presley tunes recorded love at Boston's Symphony Hall for a PBS special. No wonder he can't help falling in love -- once again -- with the man who keeps a lock on our hearts."

Search - Keith Lockhart, Bill Whelan, Ferde Grofe :: Encore! / Lockhart, Boston Pops

CD Details

CD Reviews