Track Listing

1. 1812 Festival Overture, Op.49 (Original Scoring)
2. 1812 Festival Overture, Op.49: Commentary By Deems Taylor
3. Capriccio Italien, Op.45
4. Wellington's Victory ('The Battle Of Vitoria'), Op. 91: First Part: Battle
5. Wellington's Victory ('The Battle Of Vitoria'), Op. 91: Second Part: Victory Symphony
6. Wellington's Victory ('The Battle Of Vitoria'), Op. 91: Commentary by Deems Taylor

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12920 in Music
• Released on: 1995-10-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

From Amazon.co.uk
This disc caused quite a stir when first issued in the early 1960s. With a panoply of infantry in the Beethoven, and bells and cannon in the Tchaikovsky, Dorati goes for maximum impact: just what both pieces need when heard outside the concert hall or arena. Wellington's Victory has often been labelled Beethoven's worst major work--pointlessly if you consider it was written as a quick commission for a new line of mechanical instrument! Take it with a fair pinch of salt and enjoy. 1812 is a better work than many people, including Tchaikovsky, would give it credit for. Again, it's not profound, nor was it meant to be. It sounds fabulous in this latest transfer--40 years just melt away as you listen. The Minneapolis SO is not in the "super league" of US orchestras, but they rise to the occasion as Dorati encourages them to do. You also get a hard and fast Capriccio Italen, and two discussions on how the sessions for the main works were set up. As the results amply demonstrate, it's a slice of recording history to treasure. --Richard Whitehouse

Amazon.com essential recording
It's hard to believe that this, the BEST EVER 1812 Overture was not only recorded in the 1950s, but it still sounds better than any other version. This last fact is a tribute to the remastering expertise of producer Wilma Cozart Fine, and a still greater tribute to her late husband, a recording genius, for leaving her with such fantastic quality original tapes to work with. If you want real cannon, the sound of a zillion bells, and a really sensational brass band, all perfectly blended together to produce the ultimate in audio spectacle, then baby this one's for you. Wellington is, if anything, even noisier--though a lot less valuable musically. Still, it's the only logical coupling, and every single cannon blast and musket shot comes over with thrilling immediacy. What a disc! --David Hurwitz

Chronique amazon.fr
Voilà certainement un des disques les plus étonnants de toute l'histoire. Enregistré par les ingénieurs de Mercury, cette Ouverture 1812 est dirigée avec l'engouement et la fougue d'Antal Dorati. Ajoutons à cela l'usage d'un véritable canon, de carillon et de mousquets, et l'on obtient un souffle impressionnant. Ce disque aux allures guerrières est tout simplement historique, tant par sa rigueur musicale que par sa réalisation digne des plus grands péplums. Ce fut une gageure de "donner du canon" tout en respectant la précision de la partition. --Marc Aigneaux