Search - Johann II [Junior] Strauss, Franz von Suppe, Jacques Offenbach :: Famous Operetta Overtures

Amazon's high standards upheld

Harold E. Summerville | Calhoun, GA | 05/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As usual I was completely satisfied with the quality and price of my purchase of "Famous Operetta Overtures" by Jacques Offenbach."

Enjoyment - Insight - Can-can

Leslie Richford | Selsingen, Lower Saxony | 06/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Conductor Alfred Walter appears to have the distinction of transforming the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Kosice (eastern Slovakia) from a rather run-of-the-mill provincial troupe (see my negative comments on their Naxos ?Scandinavian Festival? and their recording of Rodriguez? Concierto de Aranjuez) into an orchestra that can generate genuine excitement with Viennese and Parisian operetta. Despite the rather narrow stereo panorama and the comparatively low volume of this CD, made in 1990 at the House of Arts in Kosice, the disc has provided me with a great deal of enjoyment and some insight into both Johann Strauss?s overtures and Franz von Suppé?s extraordinary works, as well as introducing me satisfactorily to Jacques Offenbach. Naxos appear to have recorded the Strauss overtures a number of times, but the versions presented here seem to me to be by far the best. The CD closes with Offenbach?s parody of Gluck?s ?Orpheus in the Underworld?, bringing with it a rousing rendition of the dance later to be known as the ?Can-can?."