- Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
- Audio CD (23 Sep 2004)
- SPARS Code: DDD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Universal Classics
- ASIN: B000060O5D
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 112,064 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Street music, op. 65 - William Russo |
| 2. Three pieces for blues band and symphony orchestra, op. 50 - William Russo |
| 3. An American in Paris - Gershwin |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Beautifully produced and brilliantly played orchestral-blues cross-over by William Russo, with the SFSO and the Seigel-Schwall blues band from Chicago. The wild harmonica playing of Siegel is breath-takingly exciting -- in the 4th movement of 'Street Music'in particular it really stands out in a hair-raising way. The three pieces for blues band and orchestra that go with it are equally well worth the money.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Ozawa's Americana
24 Oct 2003
Format:Audio CD
Seiji Ozawa brought new life to the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra during his tenure with the orchestra as music director, 1970 to 1977. The orchestra had been "rebuilt" under his predecessor, Josef Krips, who led the orchestra from 1963 to 1970, after nine years of decline due to ineffective leadership under Enrique Jorda. With Ozawa came youthful vitality, including some very innovative programming and strong, sound leadership. Those of us who were privileged to attend SFSO concerts under Ozawa (including this writer) have lasting memories of some very wonderful concerts.
A product of Ozawa's relationship with the SFSO was its first recordings in 12 years. The orchestra had last recorded in January 1960, for RCA Victor, when the legendary maestro Pierre Monteux returned to guest conduct the struggling orchestra. They taped two romantic masterpieces, Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll" and Richard Strauss' "Death and Transfiguration." Enrique Jorda, music director from 1954 to 1963, made only a few recordings because the orchestra was having serious problems under his leadership. Josef Krips always said that the orchestra "wasn't ready" to record again during his seven years with the orchestra, despite some very fine broadcast performances over local station KKHI.
Ozawa developed a close relationship with American composer William Russo that led to two world premieres of that composer's remarkable combinations of blues band and symphony orchestra. "Street Music" was one of the works premiered and it was an immediate "hit" with audiences and critics. Fortunately, Deutsche Grammophon decided to record this work at the Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino, California, where the orchestra gave some occasional performances. This is fun, very lively music and is a more modern counterpart to George Gershwin's use of jazz in symphonic compositions.
Ozawa's rendition of Gershwin's "An American Paris" is particularly jazzy and well-performed. Due to the San Francisco Symphony's long relationship with Boston "Pops" conductor Arthur Fiedler, who frequently conducted the orchestra in summer concerts, the musicians were well-acquainted not only with Gershwin's music but some of the more upbeat arrangements of popular music. The versatility of the orchestra was seldom more apparent than in this wonderful performance of Gershwin's musical recollections of Paris in the 1920's.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Blues harmonica plus Symphony Orchestra
28 Dec 2007
Format:Audio CD
From Corky Siegel's opening single note gliss on harmonica, (try that sometime) the CD promises and delivers new listening experiences. That's odd because this recording, combining the Siegel-Schwall Blues Band and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa conducting, is from 1973. So it has been out there but if you didn't know about it, now's the time. William Russo, a Chicago composer, wrote the blues pieces and with this combination, they work very well. Great Stuff. Oh, and Gershwin is in here, too.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A wonderful upbeat recording
16 Mar 2005
Format:Audio CD
This music may not be for everyone but for those who can appreciate something a little different William Russo's "Street Music" and "Pieces for Blues Band and Orchestra" are terrific semi-classical jazzy pieces. They mate well with "An American in Paris". If you like Gershwin's work you'll probably enjoy these works by Russo as well. Corky Siegel is the featured harmonica player and gives an awesome performance which is expertly captured by the DG technicians. Mr. Ozawa and the S.F. Symphony give a superb rendition of all 3 works and the recording is first rate. I own several versions of "An American in Paris" and can't really choose a favorite, it just depends on my mood. This is the most lively by far with lots of nuance in the playing.
This is my favorite all around album out of about 250 CDs which includes rock, pop, jazz, classical, country, swing and oldies.
This is my favorite all around album out of about 250 CDs which includes rock, pop, jazz, classical, country, swing and oldies.
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