The Spectacular Naxos Blu-ray Audio Experience

SCHUBERT

Complete Overtures

Prague Sinfonia / Christian Benda

Der Teufel als Hydraulicus, D 4 • Der Spiegelritter, D 11 • Overture in D major, D 12

Overture in D major, D 26 • Des Teufels Lustschloß, D 84 • Der vierjährige Posten, D 190

Claudine von Villa Bella, D 239 • Die Freunde von Salamanka, D 326

Overture in B flat major, D 470 • Overture in D major, D 556

Overture in the Italian style in D major, D 590 • Overture in the Italian style in C major, D 591

Rosamunde, D 644 (from Die Zauberharfe) • Die Zwillingsbrüder, D 647

Overture in E minor, D 648 • Rosamunde, D 732 (from Alfonso und Estrella)

Die Verschworenen – Der häusliche Krieg, D 787 • Fierabras, D 796

24-bit, 96 kHz Stereo and Surround recordings

Schubert wrote his first theatrical work when he was fourteen and his hopes of success in the genre, never truly realised, were long lasting. He wrote concert overtures and music for Singspiele (Song-plays), in some of which he was guided by his teacher, Salieri. The music for the melodrama Die Zauberharfe (The Magic Harp) is better known as the Overture to Rosamunde, but evidence of his captivating vitality, tunefulness and theatricality is everywhere to be heard. Of volume 1 of the CD release (8570328) the American Record Guide wrote: ‘The Prague players relish these sun-lit and tuneful pieces and respond with great enthusiasm and affection.’

In CD terms there are hard-to-source programmes with the overtures on the Fleur de Son label but otherwise the stage and theatre works are surprisingly uncommon, never encountered systematically like the two Naxos discs that here form one release, and are unique to Blu-ray.

Christian Benda descends from a long line of distinguished musicians dating back to 1686. He is First Guest Conductor of the Turin Philharmonic Orchestra and Chief Conductor of the Prague Sinfonia with which he has recorded numerous standard classical works, as well as the compositions of his ancestors and is currently recording Rossini’s complete overtures.

PLEASE NOTE This Blu-Ray Disc is not compatible with DVD players

Naxos Blu-ray NBD0019