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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprising warmth and engagement, 25 Sep 2004
I've been fairly critical of this combination of artists in other reviews (e.g. Dukas) - not for their virtuosity which is ample and amazing, or their discipline, which is awesome, but for a lack of real warmth and engagement.Now here comes a disc of music which can all too "easily" be played as a sonic spectacular and virtuoso warhorse, music which, lets face it, is really only of the third rank (enjoyable though it is) - and they confound me by bringing warmth and engagement to it all. Okay, none of these pieces are Beethoven's ninth, but no-one can listen to the great peaks of the repertoire all the time, sometimes you have to come down and wallow in less challlenging pictures and sounds and this does the job just fine. The Cincinatti players obviously feel the same way, because they seem to be enjoying not just their own skill but the music as well. And for once, DSD recording helps. Normally its a bit dry for my tastes when transferred to redbook rather than SACD surround, but this time Telarc has superbly captured both the dry heat of Rome on some days and also the atmospheric sultriness of others. If they re-issued this on SXACD surround, I'd certainly re-purchase it. All instruments (but especially the oboe) are captured well, but a special mention for one moment when the whole violin desk play like larks ascending (I won't tell you where and when, - it should take you by surprise and make you go "ooh" so I wont spoil it). And its all so physical too, - my body was responding to the sound with not only spine tingles, but tummy wobbles. Without doubt, some of the best recorded sound it has ever been my privilege to hear on a redbook cd. If i was judging the music, enjoyable though it is, then I'd be more critical but for performance and sound, five stars.
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~ Ottorino Respighi
~ London Symphony Orchestra
~ Ottorino Respighi
![Bruckner: The Nine Symphonies; Helgoland [Box Set]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511ATQMJ01L._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
~ Anton Bruckner
![Works of Igor Stravinsky [Box Set]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ffzhvDpuL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
~ Donald Gramm
See all 21 tracks on this disc
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