The music on this release, dating from between about 1880 and 1930, has pretty much been rescued from the historical scrap heap; once in a while they fill out collections of British orchestral music. Their neglect is not really due to any intrinsic lack of quality but rather to the decline in the use of non-operatic overtures in general. Audiences don't have a feel for these pieces, which may be linked to literary or stage works, or alternatively may simply be miniature tone poems. The most famous piece here is probably ...
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The music on this release, dating from between about 1880 and 1930, has pretty much been rescued from the historical scrap heap; once in a while they fill out collections of British orchestral music. Their neglect is not really due to any intrinsic lack of quality but rather to the decline in the use of non-operatic overtures in general. Audiences don't have a feel for these pieces, which may be linked to literary or stage works, or alternatively may simply be miniature tone poems. The most famous piece here is probably Arthur Sullivan's Overture to Macbeth, part of a forgettable set of incidental music to Shakespeare's play. Sullivan's voice is recognizable in the overture, however, and since even this work is not common, the album will be of interest to admirers of Gilbert and Sullivan. The weightier pieces in general disappoint, although this may be partly a function of the rather safe readings by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Rumon Gamba. For the album's best case, sample the lighter...
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Add this copy of Overtures From the British Isles to cart. $32.17, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2014 by Chandos.
Add this copy of British Overtures [Rumon Gamba, Bbc National Orchestra to cart. $41.38, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2014 by Chandos.
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