The three major sections of this album feature the orchestra, soprano and piano, and solo strings, and each offers a radically different type of performance. The Don Juan alone is worth the price of the album: it is stunning. The sweeping, rousing, Wagnerian beginning might give the listener goosebumps with its tremendous, Bernstein-like energy. Jan Latham-Koenig and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg do this piece fantastic justice. The sparkling, twinkling violin solo is perfection (it recalls the solo in Gershwin ...
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The three major sections of this album feature the orchestra, soprano and piano, and solo strings, and each offers a radically different type of performance. The Don Juan alone is worth the price of the album: it is stunning. The sweeping, rousing, Wagnerian beginning might give the listener goosebumps with its tremendous, Bernstein-like energy. Jan Latham-Koenig and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg do this piece fantastic justice. The sparkling, twinkling violin solo is perfection (it recalls the solo in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue), and the lyrical section featuring the oboe and winds is equally enjoyable. This is certainly a gorgeous example of how tone colors in the orchestra are varied and used to great effect, especially when each instrument plays with tremendous mastery. One can only wonder why this orchestra is not more widely known. The second grouping of works is the lieder featuring Joan Rodgers accompanied by the conductor. Rodgers has a core to her voice, an honesty and...
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