Search - Claudio Monteverdi, Giovanni Pergolesi, Domenico Cimarosa :: Italian Overtures

Listen and Learn

10/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very enjoyable collection with an educative thesis behind it. Namely, it traces the course of the Italian overture from its birth in the early Baroque to its supposed death at the gates of the 20th century. Along the way, Myung-Whun Chung unearths some attractive rarities by Pergolesi, Cimarosa, and Cherubini. The Cherubini is especially welcome. I haven't seen it before on disc, despite the fact that conductors are rediscovering Cherubini's well-crafted and powerful orchestral music. In terms of the overall program, in fact, my only objection is that to make its point, the CD fails to venture into the 20th century, to composers such as Wolf-Ferrari and Resphigi, whose overture to "Belfagor," for example, is a thoroughly entertaining tribute to the past glories of the Italian sinfonia. Some listeners will prefer their Monteverdi on original instruments (though Chung and company make a glorious noise here), and as I suggest, I would have gladly swapped the familiar Rossini and Verdi staples for additional rarities. But on balance I can't complain with either the programming or the execution. The orchestra plays beautifully for Chung, and he brings affetuoso warmth to Mascagni, drama and sweep to Cherubini and Verdi. The sound has plenty of impact and detail; apparently, this upfront recording style is the house standard for DG these days. I prefer a mid-auditorium seat, but the recording is very good of its type."