Search - Malcolm Arnold, Reinhold Gliere, Edouard Lalo :: Light Classics Volume 1

Pass on this volume. Volume II is better.

Bruce H. Jensen | 08/10/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I found a website that said these two (Light Classics I and II) were "sonic blockbusters". Volume I, is far from it. Chesky made a good attempt at revitalizing this cd, but the attempt failed. In no way is this a full range recording. Any bass is sadly lacking, making this a thin, budget like CD recording. The selections and performance are not exciting either. I would PASS on getting this CD. But Volume II is an entirely different story!"

Oh c'mon - This disk is better than that!

Bruce H. Jensen | San Lorenzo, CA United States | 05/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc is, as the earlier review says, somewhat lacking in bass. It is not devoid of bass, however, and some judicious use of the tone controls will solve much of the problem. What is far more important, and this is something the earlier review misses, is that these performances are in every way top-notch. The Arnold Scottish Dances Suite is done to perfection, by turns lively and endearing. The Polovtsian Dances spring to life here as they do practically nowhere else, and the Russian Sailor's Dance may be the best ever recorded. Everything else is just as masterly and wonderful. If I had to give this a score for the sound quality alone, I might give it a qualified 3 stars, but again, that is largely able to be solved. For the great conducting, fabulous playing by Gerhardt's hand-picked National Philharmonic, and the choice of music that never fails to please, it is rock-solid 5 stars, and makes up in every way for any lack of sound quality perfection."