The timpani pieces presented on this CD belong more to the novelty works category than anything else. If you take out the timpani part, all sound like nameless classical music you may hear in an elevator or when put on hold. The timpani usually just double whatever the orchestra is playing. (No wonder Beethoven is credited as being the first guy who actually freed timpani from simply doubling or accomplanying and gave the instrument its own nondispensable role in orchestral works.)
The biggest problem with listening to this CD is, you can get tired pretty quickly from all that booming from the timpani. It's like all of a sudden you get a sinus congestion. So I'd advise listening to one work at a time, with plenty of break between the pieces.
The timpanist, A. Peter, does a very fine job, but the Dresden chamber orchestra feels disinterested and bored most of the time. Of course, I probably can't really blame the musicians because, for the most part, the music is pretty boring. The virtuoso timpani passages add colors and excitement, but at the end of the day, this is something I can't fall in love with.
