Arthur Fiedler Boston Tea Party
By Arthur Fiedler - The Boston Pops Orchestra
Arthur Fiedler: Boston Tea Party. Tracks: The Merry Wives of Windsor: Overture//Fantasia on Greensleeves//Minuet//The count of Luxemburg: Waltzes//The merry Widow: Waltz//Moonglow and theme from "Picnic"//Hernando's Hideaway from "The Pajama Game"//The Bohemian Girl: Overture//
Boston Pops Sampler BMG has digitally reprocessed a complete 1958 "Living Stereo" recording by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra that gives a good sampling of the variety of music Fiedler programmed during his 50-year tenure (1929 to 1979) in Boston. This album even features the original color photograph with Fiedler and some pretty women at a formal tea party. It remains a delightful and enjoyable collection of light classics and even selections from popular films and musicals. The Boston Pops Orchestra is drawn from members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and still gives many of its concerts in Boston's Symphony Hall. A long tradition has been the Esplanade concerts on the Charles River. Although pops concert began in the late nineteenth century, it was Fiedler who really popularized them through recordings, broadcasts, and even telecasts. Beginning in July 1935, the Pops recorded for RCA Victor, a relationship that continued until the late 1960's. The classical selections on this CD include a rare stereo recording of the overture to Michael Balfe's "The Bohemian Girl," an operetta that was adapated for a Laurel and Hardy feature film released in 1936. The overture features many of the familiar tunes from the operetta and those familiar with the film will recognize them. It is extremely well-played by the orchestra. A special treat is a wonderful performance of the overture to Otto Nicolai's opera "The Merry Wives of Windsor." This showcases the Boston strings and includes some very sensitive and virtuoso playing by the orchestra. The only recording that may rival this one is Sir Thomas Beecham's recording for Columbia. Fiedler excels in two familiar pieces from the operettas of Franz Lehar, "The Merry Widow" and "The Count of Luxemburg." These fully capture the Viennese spirit and have all of the ebb and flow typical of Lehar's music. Another rarity is Bolzoni's "Minuet," a piece that Toscanini often programmed. It really showcases the string players. Interestingly, Toscanini and Fiedler were friends. Toscanini expressed his admiration for what Fiedler was doing and called him "Arturo" since they actually share variations of the same first name. "Hernando's Hideaway" from the musical "Pajama Game" is delightfully performed. There is considerable whimsy and energy in the performance, too, of music that has recently been revived on Broadway. For the 1955 film adaptation of William Inge's "Picnic," the popular tune "Moonglow" was combined with the film's theme to create a new tune, which was a highlight of the film when Kim Novak danced at the climax of the festivities (after being crowned a beauty queen). This is yet another rare recording by Fiedler. Fiedler was at the height of his powers in Boston when these selections were taped in Boston's Symphony Hall in the spring of 1958. The album was quickly released later that year as RCA Victor flooded the classical market with a number of stereo LPs in its three-channel "Living Stereo" process. It remains a very enjoyable album and the sound still amazes the listener.
