Search - Wagner :: Wagner: Ouvertures & Préludes [United Kingdom]

Brilliant Boult, But There is a Better Buy

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 04/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 2CD French Import from the "Rouge et Noir" series featuring Wagner's Overtures and Preludes as performed by conductor Sir Adrian Boult is incredible. However, there is a domestic EMI version, with a different cover but the exact same music, that can be purchased for much less on Amazon. Below is my review of that title:Sir Adrian Boult is best known for his recordings of the British repertoire, and his performances, particularly of Holst's "The Planets" and Elgar's Symphonies and Orchestral Works, are legendary. But Boult was also an excellent conductor of Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner, and this 2-CD set collects the Overtures and Preludes of the latter German titan. These stereo recordings from the early to mid-1970s with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, and London Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras are truly first rate. EMI's set compares nicely in terms of price, quality and musical offerings with competing sets by DG (Bohm, Kubelik, et al) and Sony (Ormandy & Szell). You might have reservations about getting German music conducted by a Brit, but you really can't go wrong with Boult."