Herbert, Bizet, Cilèa, Dvořák, Heins, MacDowell, Schuett, McBride & Schumann: Symphonic Vignettes, V

To take a multitude of musical subjects, moods, styles and eras and combine them into a pleasing, completely satisfying adventure, is a feat adroitly accomplished by the New World Symphony Orchestra in ‘Symphonic Vignettes, Vol. 10.’ With Raymond Thomas wielding the high-flying “stick,” the orchestra takes off for a melodic tour on the wings of sound. Their explorations begin at the summit of pure, exalted themes, with Georges Bizet’s inspired Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), from the familiar ‘L’Arlesienne Suite.’ From the sublime to the valleys of the mundane, the orchestra follows a gradual and soothing descent, via the compositions of some well-known classical masters, Robert Schumann, Antonin Dvorak, Cesar Cui... and on the lighter side of the ledger, Victor Herbert and Edward MacDowell. Through the instrumental telescope the focus falls on an image of repose... a snow-white blossom floating dreamily, with its glossy leaves spread over a halo of silver ripples. Romance is wrapped in a cloud of tonal poetry, reflecting Schumann’s buoyant, generous personality... a fresh spirit that suffused his works with eternal youth. Now the grand tour circles over gayer plains, tracing Cui’s charming, unsophisticated Valse... emerges joyously into Herbert’s sunny Badinage and spins away with abandon in Dvorak’s stormy Slavonik Dance No. 8. Then, with a final jet-propelled burst of modern rhythms, the New World Symphony Orchestra heads for “terra firma” to enjoy a morsel of classic jazz, fit for the ears of any musical epicure... Popover by Robert McBride. Further brief stopovers along the path of delightful concert pieces round out the deftly conducted excursion in this album, providing a listening experience worth returning to time and time again.