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London
Philharmonic Orchestra,
Conductor: Jean Martinon Released
in 1951 as Decca LXT 2590 "Famous Overtures No. 3"
Download ID: 106793/432792
(Duration 32'04")
Orpheus
in the Underworld (Orphée aux Enfers)
The
Grand Duchess of Gérolstein (arr. Hoffman)
Helen
(La belle Hélène) (arr. Haensch)
Bluebeard
(Barbe bleue)
The
Betrothal at the Lantern (Le Mariage aux Lanternes)
Play
sample overture:
"A delightful collection"
The Record Guide
These
five overtures, masterfully conducted by Jean Martinon (left),
capture perfectly and vividly the wit, melodiousness and joie de vivre
that typifies the music of Offenbach. In 25 years he wrote ninety
opéras bouffes which epitomised the pleasure-loving Second
Empire of France.
This
recording was exceptionally well received on its release, gaining a coveted
double-starred review in The Record Guide and the following note:
"However
apprehensive one may feel at the thought of a record containing five overtures,
and however disinclined to play them all on end, it must be admitted that
makes [this record] a delightful collection: the French conductor has
drawn from his English players a surprising zest and elegance, the recording
is a admirable, and the music unfailingly spirited and inventive."
Yet
again Peter Harrison of disk2disc has provided an excellent trancription
and restoration of this fabulous early Decca vinyl LP.
REVIEW
OF OFFENBACH - FIVE OVERTURES LPO - Martinon (1951)
Jacques
Offenbach is not a favorite composer of mine. I cannot deny
his incredible industry, his musicianship, nor his unending
fount of melody and rhythm. Still, I find that he cannot hold
a candle to Johann Strauss, Jr. or even to Franz von Suppe
as a writer of 19th century operettas. On the other hand,
as one of the most magnificent late blooming miracles in music,
his final work, "The Tales of Hoffman", is a great
19th century opera which I love. As for the overtures offered,
they are all quite enjoyable, but Maurice Rosenthal has picked
all the best melodies and put them into "Gaite Parisienne".
It is very good to get to hear "Le Mariage aux Lanternes".
Martinon
conducts splendid and poetic performances of the overtures.
He does not play them as just lollipops, but digs for the
gold. Listen to the famous "can-can" when it comes--it
actually seems to grow out of the earlier part of the overture
rather than just be a raucous paste-on. Listen to how Martinon
highlights the cello melodies; Offenbach wrote concert music
for two cellos. If there is any criticism of Martinon's playing,
it is that perhaps occasionally he goes for the gold when
there is only silver there; he's a bit too much of a gentleman,
sometimes. But we prize that in a Frenchman.
No
little carpings on the remastering. At first I thought it
was early stereo and then remembered that the source material
had to be at least 50 years old. It never occured to me that
this sound was from 1951; it seemed so well-matched to the
music. The sound is not unlike the performance, rather poetic
and a bit unspectacular. Rather gentlemanly, in fact.
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