Jules Massenet Benjamin Godard Felix 1 Mendelssohn - Italian Festival (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

Search - Jules Massenet, Benjamin Godard, Felix [1] Mendelssohn :: Italian Festival

Jules Massenet, Benjamin Godard, Felix [1] Mendelssohn
Italian Festival
Genres: Pop, Classical

Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
1. Suite No.5 for orchestra ('Scènes napolitaines'): La danse
2. Suite No.5 for orchestra ('Scènes napolitaines'): La Procession et l'Improvisateur
3. Suite No.5 for orchestra ('Scènes napolitaines'): La Fête
4. Scènes italiennes (3) for piano, Op.126: Sérénade florentine
5. Scènes italiennes (3) for piano, Op.126: Sicilienne
6. Scènes italiennes (3) for piano, Op.126: Tarentelle
7. Song Without Words for piano No. 6 in G minor ('Venetianisches Gondellied'), Op. 19b/6
8. Tarantella, for piano (Années, suppl. to II/3), S. 162/3 (LW A197/3)
9. Mattinata ('L'aurora di bianco vestita'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra)
10. Tarantella, Op. 12, for orchestra
11. Impressions d'Italie, symphonic suite for orchestra: No. 5, Naples
12. Saltarello for orchestra
13. Funiculì Funiculà, for voice & orchestra (& chorus ad lib)

CD Details

All Artists: Jules Massenet, Benjamin Godard, Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Franz Liszt, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Cesar Cui, Gustave Charpentier, Charles Gounod, Luigi Denza, Ondrej Lenard, Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava), CSR Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)
Title: Italian Festival
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Naxos
Original Release Date: 1/1/1988
Re-Release Date: 2/15/1994
Genres: Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Pop, Opera & Classical Vocal, Forms & Genres, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 730099508728, 4891030500877

CD Reviews

WHAT A FIND!!

Peter Prainito | Lombard, IL USA | 07/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Naxos label has always been innovative, offering repertoire that has been either unknown or neglected. Music that deserves to be heard. This "Italian Festival" CD by the CSR Symphony conducted by Ondrej Lenard is a hidden treasure of delights that have to be heard to be believed. The 13 tracks are expertly played with beautiful recorded digital sound lasting 65 minutes. Moreover, the major pieces on this disc are awesome, full of melodic charm and emotion. Namely, I'm referring to the Massenet: Scenes Napolitaines; Godard: Scenes Italiennes; and Charpentier: Impressions D'Italie,...three gorgeous works by none other than Frenchmen! The shorter works are splendid as well and will certainly delight any listener. They include a Tarantelle by Liszt (a Hungarian), an instrumental version of Leoncavallo's popular Mattinata, another Tarantelle by Cui (a Russian), a Saltarello by Gounod (another Frenchman), the dreamy Venetian Gondolier by Mendelssohn (a German Jew), and a snappy orchestral version of Denza's Funiculi, funicula. What a stroke of genious by Naxos to produce a CD compilation of 9 works of which all but 2 are by non-Italian composers. But make no mistake, all this music is Italian-sounding to the core. This disc is easily worth 4 times it's bargain price. I advise all readers of this review to buy this CD. I am absolutely certain that you won't regret your purchase, nor find most of this music available on any other label. I can't say enough good things about "Italian Festival". SUPERIOR RECOMMENDATION!!!"

Nice Italian...

vmzfla | Orlando, Fl. | 03/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Naxos deserves kudos' for coming up with this colorful collection of Italian inspired works by mostly non Italian composers. This lively set includes no less than three tarantelle with French, Hungarian, and Russian spice. The "Venetian Gondodier Song" is the most humble of the pieces.

So your in for a lot of folksy melodies here! For authenticity two of Italy's favorite sons, Luigi Denza and opera great Leoncavallo crash this Italian wanabee party with two big hits.

Lenard and his Bratislava orchestra play with vigor and commitment like old "pisanos". What ever their ethnic background

all involved make this disc a pure joy! Magnifico!!!"