Symphonic masterpieces evoke images and scenes from the United States in world-class recordings conducted by Erich Kunzel, Lukas Foss, and Donald Johanos. Includes Aaron Copland's A Lincoln Portrait narrated by classical radio commentator Dennis Rooney.
Monday, 20 February 2012 14:44
Americana
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This appealing collection brings together some wellknown gems from the Vox catalogue in one enticing package. The Johanos/Dallas recordings of Ives' Holidays Symphony and Copland ballet suites (Billy the Kid and Rodeo) have long been admired for their idiomatic naturalness both of performance and sound. Elie Siegmeister's Western Suite fits right in, being a thoroughly Coplandesque bit of Americana, albeit more heavily orchestrated and less rhythmically lithe, and its issue on a single disc probably missed most collectors. Abravanel's performance catches the music's liveliness, while the playing as such remains a bit roughandready. Lukas Foss leads a suitably grand recording of A Lincoln Portrait dating from 1970, ably narrated by Dennis Rooney, and Erich Kunzel provides the icing on the cake in the form of Morton Gould's American Salute (a.k.a. "When Johnny Comes Marching Home") and a selection of Sousa bonbons that goes beyond the usual marches to include a waltz, tango, polonaise, and foxtrot. A marvelous bargain by any measure.
— David Hurwitz , Classics Today, March 2003
Symphonic scenes and rousing marches that capture the spirit of America
Americana
Dallas Symphony Orchestra / Donald Johanos / Maurice Abravanel / Utah Symphony Orchestra / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra / Erich Kunzel / Dennis Rooney / Lukas Foss / Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Vox CDX-5182
Number of Units: 2
EAN: 0047163518225
Dallas Symphony Orchestra / Donald Johanos / Maurice Abravanel / Utah Symphony Orchestra / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra / Erich Kunzel / Dennis Rooney / Lukas Foss / Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Elie Siegmeister: Western Suite
Maurice Abravanel / Utah Symphony Orchestra
Charles Ives: New England Holidays
Donald Johanos / Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Aaron Copland: A Lincoln Portrait
Dennis Rooney, narrator / Lukas Foss / Bufflao Philharmonic Orchestra
Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man / Billy the Kid – Suite / Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes
Donald Johanos / Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Morton Gould: American Salute
John Philip Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever / La Reine de la Mer / Gliding Girl / The Thunderer / The Washington Post / Peaches and Cream / Presidential Polonaise / Semper Fidelis
Erich Kunzel / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
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