I always enjoy listening to and experiencing what one composer does with another composer's work. Often times, the results have the listener hearing a whole new angle on a piece that they thought they knew inside and out. Perhaps the greatest example of this type of transcription is Ravel's brilliant work with Mussorgsky's equally brilliant piano masterpiece "Pictures at an Exhibition."
I offer the contents of two lps, one led by Vladimir Golschmann and the other by probably the best "resident" conductor of the last century (at least in the US), Louis Lane. The first recording in stereo features Lane conducting "The Good Humored Ladies" and "The Wise Virgin"; this is music based on Domenico Scarlatti and J S Bach. Lane leads strong performances where the musicians sound like they are enjoying themselves immensely. One would think that Lane probably came as a welcome alternative to the hardriving Szell, at least for these players in Cleveland.
The mono Golschmann lp is, in my opinion, of extreme interest for it features Golschmann's own arrangements of Chopin piano pieces. These little gems are marvelously orchestrated and are a fond reminder of the"complete" musician that Golschmann was. It's rather too bad that they are all but forgotten since they would make terrific encores or selections in a "pops" program. The second side of the Golschmann disc showcases a delicious Rossiniana.
Nice, lighter fare here available in FLAC format.
