Search - Ohio Light Opera :: Operetta Overtures and Entr'actes

Lots of Nice Tunes, But ...

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 08/13/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"... they might have been played better.



This CD is a compilation of overtures and entr'actes taken from the complete operetta recordings in the series put out by the Ohio Light Opera based at Wooster College. They were recorded as part of staged performances between 2001 and 2006. The pit orchestra, whose membership changes over the years because it uses many students, is conducted by three different conductors: Stephen Byess, J. Lynn Thompson and Jason Altieri.



Amazon has not as yet listed the contents so I shall do so:



Herbert: Naughty Marietta - Overture & Act II Entr'acte

Sullivan: The Gondoliers - Overture

Sullivan: The Sorcerer - Overture

Offenbach: The Brigands - Overture & Entr'actes from Acts II & III

Kalman: Autumn Maneuvers - Overture

Herbert: The Red Mill - Overture and Act II Entr'acte

Friml: The Firefly - Overture

Sullivan: The Grand Duke - Overture



These are all lovely tuneful works and they are given lively performances. But the level of execution, coupled with the small size of the orchestra, leaves something to be desired. Still, if one is looking for these particular pieces one will not find them anywhere else on one CD. Timing is a bit short for a full price CD: 52:02.



Scott Morrison



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