Suppe - Overtures - Paul Paray - Classical - Mercury Living Presence - Stereo LP
LP

Suppe - Overtures - Beautiful Galatea/ Pique Dame/ Light Cavalry/ Poet and Peasant/ Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna/ Boccaccio

Performers....

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Paul Paray


LP
Canada Issue
Mercury Living Presence
Stereo
Record is VG++
Laminated Cover is VG++ ( see pic)

Side A

Beautiful Galatea
Pique Dame
Light Cavalry

Side B

Poet and Peasant
Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna
Boccaccio


The good news is that even though this music might be considered to be more "common" among classical elitists, Paul Paray treated it as he would any great art. This recording gives you such beautifully refined sound, such truly INCREDIBLE energy and exhuberence, all with stunning precision and control- that you will be sold upon first hearing.

In this recording, Paray treats us to finely executed overtures by the operetta composer Franz Von Suppe. Suppe was not a big star in his day. His operettas were early Viennese operettas before the more famous Johann Strauss ever staged Die Fledermaus and the dozens of other operettas that followed. Suppe was an Austrian man but very French in his attitude (hence the last name Suppe)and even had French opera-bouffes in his musical styling.
Like Offenbach, his operettas were charming, engaging works of fantasy. Consider "The Beautiful Galatea" which is the first track. The Overture is ebullient and energetic, describing the magical forces behind the story which is basically the ancient Greek myth that inspired Pygmalion- an aged inventor who builds the perfect woman.

Consider also his "Boccaccio" based on the late Renaissance collection of mildly erotic poetry which read more like the Italian version of the English Canterbury Tales.

Boccaccio is amusing, with music expressing adventure and romantic entanglements.
The Light Cavalry Overture is actually quite familiar to the trained ear. Its militaristic theme has been used haphazardly in cartoons when a cavalry on horse would appear.

His Pique Dame (Queen of Spades) is not the same subject matter as Tchaikovsky's later opera which is far darker opera. Suppe's is charming comedy about a gambling salon.

The Poet and the Peasant Overture is festive and brilliantly played, in fact, the best I've heard.

Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna foreshadows Strauss waltzes.



Paul Paray brings life to these overtures, making them appear as if they are not old or obscure at all. He has genuine chemistry with all the musicians in the orchestra and the music is bright, energetic and even a pleasure to hear because it would appear it was a pleasure for Paray and the Detroit forces to make this recording.