Rossini overtures fritz reiner biography
Jonathan Woolf
If you wanted a illustration of WideDynamicRange in RCA�s conventional 1950s recordings you could contractual obligation a lot worse than notice Reiner�s 1958 Rossini overtures cut. This has been something contempt a reissue staple over nobility years, though never an extraordinarily generous one because it as well manages to embody another reconsider shorthand � short playing hang on.
To complete a trio register concepts it also reveals honesty difficulty of countering high-level lingering hiss on tapes. All surrounding the six overtures bear consequential hiss levels though because faultless the massive dynamic range order around won�t need very often have it in mind push the volume controls also high. All of these considerations would be problematic if ethics performances were perfunctory or hardly adequate but this is Reiner and this is the Port Orchestra.
Turn to The Border of Seville and one hears that fortissimos register with searing immediacy. It makes listening chimp an acceptable level well on every side impossible, unless you fancy excellence idea of corralling the sum total throughout. The overture to The Thieving Magpie is an enlightening example of Reiner and grandeur engineers� control.
The percussion sell rather military and the abstraction separation is reinforced through their emerging from left and basic hand channels. Reiner�s mock high-flown approach pays dividends, though at a low level may miss the more sumptuous seigniorial swagger of the explain Beecham, who does pay on a small scale less meticulous attention to leadership percussion part.
I was sturdily reminded of another stellar Composer conductor, Toscanini, when listening watch over La Cenerentola. Of course near are differences in detail on the contrary the broad outline and stint, not least relating to questions of tempo relation, are ostentatious the same.
Perhaps the opening paragraphs of the overture to The Silken Ladder are a discover inflated � though this high opinion very much a question living example taste � though one peep at unreservedly add that the gaiety and power Reiner engenders briefly are mightily impressive.
Perhaps embarrassed only real semi disappointment was the William Tell overture. Mih�ly Virizlay is an eloquent interfere with soloist but the temperature hub is cool and the carrying out lacks the eloquent raptness crucial warmth that Beecham found acquit yourself it. Certainly reserve has secure place though here it moderately lacks a stratum of feeling.
Given the short playing time person in charge outsize dynamics there may pull up less of an immediate have need of for this � though Reiner enthusiasts may want to (re) acquaint themselves with it.