Best Of The Victor Silvester Orchestra, The - Victor Silvester Orchestra (The)

Advantages: Great sampler, excellent recording.
Disadvantages: Not quite as memorable as being there in person.

...The Vienna New Year's Concert is a tradition somewhat akin to the "Last Night of the Proms" apart from the fact that obviously it is Austrian music that is played, and there is not the same atmosphere. The concert has happened annually since 1939, although originally it used to take place on New Year's Eve rather than New Year's Day, because a poor attendance was feared, after the traditional Austrian "Silvester" revelry. One other difference is that the New Year's Concert is even more exclusive than the Last Night of the Proms, as you have to apply for tickets two years in advance, and they are exceptionally pricey. Indeed applications for the 2003 concert closed on 2nd January this year. It is an event to be seen at, and is also a musical highlight of the Vienna music scene. Each year since 1987, when the late Herbert von Karajan... Read review

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Advantages: Contrasting programme music unified by a recurring theme
Disadvantages: None

...Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, born in 1839, was one of a group of Russian composers known as The Five, who were dedicated to producing a distinctive Russian style of music. Among Mussorgsky’s closest friends was the archietect and painter, Victor Hartmann. Hartmann died suddenly at the age of only 39. Mussorgsky was devasted by the news of his death. The following year of 1874, he attended an exhibition of his friend’s work. Walking around the exhibition, stopping and gazing at each of the pictures was to inspire Mussorgsky to compose an evocative and masterful tribute to his friend and his aristry. Mussorgsky composed Pictures at Exhibtition as a cycle of Piano pieces illustrating ten of Hartmann’s pictures linked by a recurring theme to show the viewer moving from one painting to another. It was later arranged for the orchestra... Read review

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Advantages: Great sound and a few truly wonderful songs
Disadvantages: Several of the tracks are disappointing, and you miss the dancing!

...on the strength of these tracks, but probably only to fellow lovers of musical theatre. Incidentally, don't bother with the bargain-priced recordings of this show, as those really are CDs where you get what you pay for, offering below-par renditions of even the best numbers, largely due to a smaller size of cast and orchestra. Details – the 1980 Broadway Cast Recording of 42nd Street is on the RCA Victor label and has the catalogue number BD83891. Running time is just under 50 minutes. I've seen this priced from 10 to 15 pounds.... Read review

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