Helpful votes received on reviews:
90% (9 of 10)
Location: Silsbee, Texas United States
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Reviews
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What a wonderful combination of history, theater, and music. "1776" has been one of my favorite musicals since the late '60's. To some, a musical version of the signing of the Declaration of Independence must seem odd and truly out of place, perhaps blasphemous. True, the music is not by Rodgers and Hammerstein, so there will be nothing from this film to whistle in the shower. But I can imagine this film, to most viewers anyway, ranking up there with "Yankee Doodle Dandy" as required viewing every 4th of July. I am impressed with how the film (and play) stay close to history, although, for the sake of art, some details are changed. The characters come alive, away… Read more
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Contrary to popular belief, this recording is not the one Charles Munch made in the 1950's, but a re-recording made by the same forces in the early 1960's. This was my first "Fantastique", recommended by Martin Bookspan in his book "101 Masterpieces of Music and Their Composers". I was overcome by Berlioz's inspiration, and shocked by the 1830 premiere date. No wonder many musicologists believe this work was the beginning of modern orchestration. Although this performance is less tidy in ensemble when compared to Munch's earlier account, it has the kind of fire and excitment that leaves one drained by the finish. No other account of the final movement tops this… Read more
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Davis's Concertgebouw recording of this great work (not to be confused with his earlier, less successful one with London Symphony and on the same label) is certainly one of the better ones. As a straightforward account, it works rather well, and would be my first choice, were it not for at least a half dozen other performances which do a great job of making the hair on my neck stand at attention. These include Andre Previn with the Royal Philharmonic (RPO Records), Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra (EMI), Claudio Abbado with the Chicago Symphony (DG), Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony (RCA), Sir Thomas Beecham and the French National Radio Orchestra (EMI), and John Eliot… Read more
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