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CD Review
British Light Overtures
Volume 3
- Matthew Curtis: Open Road
- Carey Blyton: The Hobbit
- Montague Phillips: Hampton Court
- John Fox: Summer Overture
- Bruce Montgomery: Overture to a Fairy Tale
- Adam Saunders: Comedy Overture
- Roger Quilter: A Children's Overture
- Philip Lane: Celebration Overture
- James Langley: The Ballyraggers
- Matthew Taylor: The Needles
Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland
Academy Sound & Vision White Line CDWHL2140 65m DDD
The third collection in AS&V's series of British Light Overtures is jam packed with some rarities and a couple of favourites that receive a much deserved airing.
Matthew Curtis is one of Britain's most exciting composers around and his exquisitely titled 'Open Road' overture is a fine curtain raiser. Blyton's 'The Hobbit' is another characteristic piece which recreates the feeling imparted from the Tolkien books.
I wasn't familiar with Phillips' 'Hampton Court' Overture and was pleasantly surprised by its lovely melodies and tone painting, a feature which is also present in Montgomery's 'Fairy Tale'. Quilter's 'Children's Overture' receives a loving performance by Sutherland but I still have a soft spot for Leaper's version on Marco Polo.
Langley and Taylor's works are a bit modern for my taste but otherwise the disc contains much interesting music that is pleasantly recorded and well annotated. The nostalgic front covers of this series are also an added incentive for purchase.
Copyright © 2003, Gerald Fenech
