Scherchen conducts overtures by Weber and French opera composers

From a three lp mono reissue by Westminster, we have a whole bunch of overtures conducted by Hermann Scherchen with the Paris National Opera Orchestra. There are five overtures by Carl Maria von Weber as well as overtures by French opera composers Adam, Auber, Boeldieu, Lalo and Thomas. I have not transferred all 3 lps but only recordings from Paris, which fills nicely fills a cd.

As with all Scherchen issues, there is plenty of excitement and often scrappy playing. Scherchen certainly has the measure of the music and his imprint is firmly on these gems. They are all a delight from start to finish. As always, I am left thinking what results Scherchen would have gotten with a truly first rate orchestra at his disposal.

I believe all of these recordings date from the late 50's and were originally released in both stereo and monaural.

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Mitropoulos + Minneapolis = FUN!

Here's a fun one...from Harmony HL 7129, the great Dimitri Mitropoulos conducting his Minneapolis Symphony in The Sorcerer's Apprentice, a couple Slavonic Dances by Dvorak, the coronation march from Meyerbeer's 'The Prophet," Lalo's overture to Le roi d'Ys, and Gliere's Russian Sailors Dance.

I love the work of Mitropoulos. Everything he put his hand to created a kind of electricity and nervous energy. These "lollipops" as Beecham would say, positively sparkle under Mitropoulos. The orchestra is with him every step of the way and these pieces come off sounding more important then they really are.

Enjoy!

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