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3.0 out of 5 stars
Cinematic classics, Jun 8 2009
By Annie Van Auken - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: More Classics From Movies (Audio CD)
Recordings on Canadian mfr. MADACY's MORE CLASSICS FROM THE MOVIES were licensed from MEDIAPHON of Stuttgart, Germany. Tracks #1, #4 and #5 are DDD transfers; the rest, ADD. Audio is uniformly fine. No liner notes provided.
Performances are mixed.
* THE EIGHTIES *
1.) The Rusticana Intermezzo lacks emotion.
2.) Ride of the Valkyries is oddly spastic and doesn't soar. A horn flubs notes more than once.
3.) Albinoni's Adagio is deftly handled and has superb bottom. Bravo!
4.) Nachtmusik's Allegro has the proper spirit.
5.) Rossini's Barber is bizarrely interpreted. Notes that are normally extended aren't. The orchestra doesn't seem in synch at times. A squealing flute goes through your head like a nail. The initial crescendo and second go-round are better, though.
6.) Liszt's 2nd Hungarian opens like a dirge! The first theme recap gets omitted and the clarinet solo has no panache. The woodwind passage is laughable. An answering trumpet that follows is lost behind strings. You wait for this one to end. Feh!
* THE NINETIES *
7.) A couple of stringed grunts don't spoil what is a decent Berlioz rendering.
8.) Finlandia is handled proficiently.
9.) Dance of the Clowns is an exceptional full-range track, nicely delivered.
10.) A delicately haunting Fauré piece makes for lovely contrast.
11.) Conductor Eduard Strauss (a relative?) is hampered on the Emperor Waltz by stray brass blowing clams.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 71:42