Search - Bonynge, Npo :: Overture & Ballet Music of the 19TH Century

Something for everyone in this collection.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 08/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Australian conductor and musicologist Richard Bonynge is well known for his success in reclaiming and reviving rare and almost forgotten music of the C19th. Once famous ballets and operas, especially those from France and Italy, have again become accessible. Many of the operas so revived have featured his wife Dame Joan Sutherland. On this splendid double CD are gathered together a selection of overtures and ballet music from the C19th. If you already have numerous recordings of overtures composed by Rossini and Auber, you will be sure to find here others they composed that are new to you. Indeed, smallish items like these, averaging about 8 minutes and so often recorded in the days of 78s, are under-represented in the age of CDs and DVDs. It is to the Auber overtures that I return, but you will find your own favorites here. Excellent ADD transfers come of late 60s and early 70s recordings."

Great forgotten French Music!

Benoit Racine | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 06/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this 2-CD collection on the strength of Bonynge's reputation as a Massenet revivalist. Four of the 27 selections are by Massenet, including the famous Élégie from the incidental music to "Les Érynnies". I foolishly thought the ultra-rare, Holy-Grail-of-music-collectors entire score to "Les Érynnies" would be present on this CD. It wasn't the case, but I wasn't disappointed at all. I discovered a great number of mostly French overtures, entr'actes and isolated ballet pieces from operas by Auber, Adam, Lecocq, Thomas, Planquette, Offenbach, Delibes, Boieldieu, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Bizet, Hérold and Saint-Saëns, which are literally NEVER heard anywhere but are well worth spending three to eight minutes with. The total effect of this collection is that it is a great mood booster and shows one how "zest", "verve", "polish", "sprightliness" and "elegance" were developed to the point of an exact science by those extraordinary 19th century musicians. I find it a great source of inspiration for day-dreaming and whistling to squirrels. (They especially respond to the "Mignon" Overture, for some reason.)"