The world premiere recording of two early symphonic poems by Emmerich Kálmán – «Saturnalia» & «Endre és Johanna» – played by the University of British Columbia Symphony Orchestra under Jonathan Girard, has just come out on a CD issued by the Operetta Foundation of Los Angeles here (http://operettafoundation.org/products/oa1027-the-little-dutch-girl-dvd). A detailed description of the recording can be found on the website of the Operetta Research Center (http://operetta-research-center.org/world-premiere-recording-kalmans-symphonic-poems/).
Here's a direct link to the CD:
http://operettafoundation.org/products/oa1027-the-little-dutch-girl-dvd
NB This link is faulty and has been corrected to: http://operettafoundation.org/products/oa1030
(https://isteam.wsimg.com/ip/a306cff6-b306-11e5-adee-f04da207780b/ols/80_original/:/rs=w:600,h:600)
Thanks for making the cover available – something I can't do. The link looks wrong (as though it was for a Kálmán DVD), but it works.
I don't think this CD contains great music, but I doubt whether you'll ever get more musical fun for your buck. The three main items are clearly written by a budding composer (Emmerich Kálmán) of 'entertainment music' and, frankly, it's an absolutely glorious late-romantic wallow, with pointers to the great Hollywood score of decades later. It's also passionately played by the University of British Columbia Symphony Orchestra and recorded with thrilling impact.
It's official: this receives my 'Fun Wallow of the Year Award' for 2020.
A ringing endorsement. My order is in!
QuoteThe link looks wrong (as though it was for a Kálmán DVD), but it works.
Not anymore. I get a 404 error.
They've corrected it:
http://operettafoundation.org/products/oa1030
Or go to the Operetta Research Center (http://operetta-research-center.org/world-premiere-recording-kalmans-symphonic-poems/) site and follow the links. That still works.
After that endorsement I can't wait for my order to arrive! (But transatlantic mail can take an awfully long time right now...)
The acknowledgement of my order warns of transatlantic postal delays of 6 to 8 weeks so it might be the new year...
Not always. I ordered something from America on Ebay a few weeks ago and it arrived in ten days.
I once ordered a score from the US. It took 8 months to arrive, by which time the embarrassed retailer had refunded my money. When it did arrive and I informed him he, very gallantly, declined to accept any payment. A true gentleman.
My previous order from the Operetta Foundation took just seven days, but that may have been a fluke. I have been waiting for another order from the US since 22 June, and the last I've been able to find out using the tracking number was that it had reached Australia on 5 July... but I'm in Switzerland...
Time to demand a refund, Wheesht. That's disgraceful. Clearly, it has been sent to the wrong place.
Your post doesn't exactly inspire confidence, Thomas. Oh heck. How long did yours take, Alan?
In the current situation I've stopped trusting tracking information, but, having said that, it looks as though my order is already in Switzerland, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. I ordered three CDs altogether on 2 November.
My order took just 5 days to arrive!
Fingers crossed, then.
Talk about off topic
Can't see how it is, Tom.
My order arrived today, after a mere 10 days, and I have just listened to it once. I agree with Alan's assessment, I think it's gloriously over the top, and the sheer fun of listening was well worth the (modest) investment for me.
It's a great listen, isn't it? I hope it sells thousands of copies.
Absolutely agree. I know I'll return to it often when I want to indulge.
My copy has just arrived, having taken only seven days to get here. Looking forward to listening to it.
Great service, isn't it? Enjoy...