Offenbach Overtures
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Jacques Offenbach
Label: Classical
Magazine Review Date: 1/1994
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 61
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: SK53288
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (La) Fille du tambour-major, Movement: Overture |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruno Weil, Conductor Jacques Offenbach, Composer Vienna Symphony Orchestra |
| Orphée aux enfers, 'Orpheus in the Underworld', Movement: Overture |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruno Weil, Conductor Jacques Offenbach, Composer Vienna Symphony Orchestra |
| (La) Belle Hélène, 'Beautiful Helen', Movement: ~ |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruno Weil, Conductor Jacques Offenbach, Composer Vienna Symphony Orchestra |
| Barbe-Bleue, Movement: Overture |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruno Weil, Conductor Jacques Offenbach, Composer Vienna Symphony Orchestra |
| (La) Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein, Movement: Overture |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruno Weil, Conductor Jacques Offenbach, Composer Vienna Symphony Orchestra |
| Monsieur et Madame Denis |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruno Weil, Conductor Jacques Offenbach, Composer Vienna Symphony Orchestra |
| (La) Vie parisienne, Movement: Overture |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Bruno Weil, Conductor Jacques Offenbach, Composer Vienna Symphony Orchestra |
| Vert-Vert |
Jacques Offenbach, Composer
Jacques Offenbach, Composer |
Author: Andrew Lamb
Offenbach overtures come in various forms. For later works such as La fille du tambour-major and Vert-vert, where he was writing for larger theatres and larger orchestras, these are indeed Offenbach's own. For the most part, however, the overtures played here differ in various ways from what he actually wrote—and not only in using a much bigger orchestra (with a larger string section and additional wind parts) than he himself had at his disposal at the Bouffes-Parisiens.
In the case of Orphee aux enfers the overture was certainly put together by another hand, but both it and the more authentic overture to La belle Helene are none the less splendid creations taken on their own terms. One simply has to recognize that the terms are those of Suppe and his Viennese colleagues rather than of Offenbach's Bouffes-Parisiens. In the case ofBarbe-bleue and La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein, though, the results are less satisfactory, since the overtures comprise Offenbach's own compact preludes stretched out with crudely interpolated sections to create mere medleys.
This may concern anyone seeking some sort of consistent shape to a collection such as this, but it is less likely to worry anyone who simply wants the Offenbach melodies. The VSO's oboist shines in the Belle Helene Overture and Bruno Weil gives the waltz melodies a good lilt there and elsewhere. On the other hand, he lingers a little long over some other passages and the playing generally lacks the polish of Karajan's BPO collection. Altogether I can't help having a feeling of patchiness that is certainly not conveyed by the collection of authentic Offenbach overtures under Antonio de Almeida (Philips, 10/88), though sadly that seems to be unavailable at the moment.'
In the case of Orphee aux enfers the overture was certainly put together by another hand, but both it and the more authentic overture to La belle Helene are none the less splendid creations taken on their own terms. One simply has to recognize that the terms are those of Suppe and his Viennese colleagues rather than of Offenbach's Bouffes-Parisiens. In the case of
This may concern anyone seeking some sort of consistent shape to a collection such as this, but it is less likely to worry anyone who simply wants the Offenbach melodies. The VSO's oboist shines in the Belle Helene Overture and Bruno Weil gives the waltz melodies a good lilt there and elsewhere. On the other hand, he lingers a little long over some other passages and the playing generally lacks the polish of Karajan's BPO collection. Altogether I can't help having a feeling of patchiness that is certainly not conveyed by the collection of authentic Offenbach overtures under Antonio de Almeida (Philips, 10/88), though sadly that seems to be unavailable at the moment.'
Offenbach Overtures
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