Search - Rossini, Gamba, London Symphony Orchestra :: Weekend Classics: Great Rossini Overtures

Slow down, your movement's fast; got to make the overture la

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 05/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"LONDON's WEEKEND CLASSICS are 1988 CD reissues of 1981 LPs. As such, average running time for most of the 18 titles in this series is 45 to 50 minutes. Their Rossini offering clocks in at 44:45.



Here, Piernino Gamba and the London Symphony interpret five of the more familiar operatic preludes in the classical canon. Most listeners of even modest experience will have their favorite versions of "Wiliam Tell" or "Barber of Seville," and I'm no exception. For me the "ultimate" Rossini overture album will always be the circa 1970 Deutsche Grammophon Berlin Philharmonic LP with conductor Herbert von Karajan. (Although not available on CD, excerpts of Karajan's "Tell" and "Magpie" may be found on the superb soundtrack to the 1971 film, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.)





All that remains with this Rossini album is to determine what have we here (hear?)--



THE THIEVING MAGPIE

With headphones, tape hiss is clearly discernible before the music commences, and less so in quiet passages. Initial snare drum is overly prominent, bass strings throughout are not miked closely enough. Tempo extremely rushed, thus sacrificing any emotion. Orchestra makes no blatant errors despite being hurried. On a scale of 1 to 5 = 3.5.



THE SILKEN LADDER

A good start is again marred by later frantic pace. Initial oboe solo sloppy. Better tone on bass. It's really surprising how rapidly competent musicians can play yet generally maintain unity. Rating: 3



BARBER OF SEVILLE

Opening crescendi are so brief they sound staccato. Where's the feeling, the brio? Hurried pace works at times, but not in the fortissimo passages and certainly not often enough to make this version of "Il barbière" worthwhile. Give it a 3 and give the orchestra some oxygen!



SEMIRAMIDE

It must have chafed to maintain piano levels and a legitimate largo pace in the French horn portion, for the band comes on like an explosion at first opportunity. Yes it's fast, but this is one of the album's better tracks. Rated 4.



WILLIAM TELL

Finely-paced, expressive cello and viola intro. Bravo! Nicely executed "storm" and beyond. I'm likin' this one! The so-called "Lone Ranger" theme is also handled in expert fashion. An album saver, this track. It gets the top rating, a 5."