At the conclusion of each season here at the JSO, I try to put together a CD highlighting portions of the best performances of the orchestra during the past season. It is an engaging project, but some seasons a touch frustrating. Reviewing the live performances I'll find very exciting, well executed works on various programs but here and there there will be some faulty intonation, too much liberty with tempi, weak entrances, a disappointing solo which went much better in rehearsal. Train wrecks? Not really, but moments in music making you would just as well forget. To put 70 minutes of quite respectable performances can be close to a challenge.
Not this year. Going through the same process I am considering a double CD package. Performances of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, Ralph Votapek joining us for Gershwin's Concerto in F and a cast of thousands bringing the roof down with Verdi's Requiem: the players of the JSO played their hearts out with remarkable accuracy, it was truly a great year!
Stephen Osmond
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What a great sounding pair of CDs. By all means, make it a double issue.
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