How do you like your Snare?

 

I personally like a tight-sounding snare drum.


None of those loose, rattly, low-pitched snares for me.

Not only does this recording start with a pleasingly tight snare, the whole ensemble is perhaps the tautest I have ever heard in Rossini.

It is almost akin to listening to a Sousa march being played by a US military ensemble. Everything is crisp and fits into place, almost clinically.

Some of this might be due to the rather dry acoustic (surprising with a prominent parquet floor), or also to the small size of this ensemble, but this is a rather cut-and-dry soundscape.

In this respect, I could imagine more warmth or romance in the tone here, although I like the generally perky attitude employed across the board, maybe wanting a little more dynamic contrast. Too bad the horn section is not a particularly beautiful sounding group in their moments, plus I could use some raucous trombones, and more specifically, the first few overtures are very piccolo forward.

This is a recording I could imagine many liking very much, and it is a good one, but there are still issues I find in it. Otherwise, this series is a nice complement to that of Sir Neville on EMI, and program-wise, there is a nice balance of the familiar and unfamiliar to explore in these Naxos volumes of Rossini Overtures.

A review from 2024



Naxos’ first volume of Rossini overtures features a mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar, including one with men’s chorus.


Christian Benda whips these pieces up into a swiftly moving frenzy. I like the energy, although a wider range of dynamics might’ve sealed the deal.


These are crisp, taut performances, almost clinically so; one where I could imagine more romantic warmth. The oft-called-upon solo clarinetist is a dream, as are the scurrying strings, but the brass is oddly hidden in the sound.


The pep of these Prague performances and their slimmed down numbers are what will probably draw most to these recordings. These attributes come with a few flaws to my ears, but certainly not deal breakers.

Listen on YouTube

 

Works
Thieving Magpie: Overture (9.50)
Semiramide: Overture (12.27)
Elizabeth, Queen of England: Overture (7.28)
Othello: Overture (8:34)
Siege of Corinthia: Overture (9.34)
Sinfonia in D 'al Conventello' (4.03)
Ermione: Overture (8.08)

Performers
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Prague Sinfonia Orchestra
Christian Benda, conductor

Label: Naxos
Year: 2012
Total Timing: 60.04

 

 

More than anything, these are perky, taut performances of Rossini's overtures.

Not perfect, with some choices which lightly bothered me while listening, but very good all the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Rossini recordings HERE!