Fantastic Overtures – Volume 2

Dyke delve into the box of orchestral mystery once again and pull out quite a few plumbs too in an enjoyable mix of the well known and not so well known overtures.

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Dr Nicholas J. Childs
Obrasso Recordings: CD927
Total Playing Time: 77.08

The second in the series of this interesting series sees Obrasso and Black Dyke do their musical Burke and Hare act and exhume the long moribund bodies of deceased overtures. 

The Dr Knox in question, set to dissect the brass band corpses of Wagner, Weber, Lalo, Auber, de Binner, Verdi and Nicolai for further public display is Howard Lorriman, who it seems has cornered this particular niche market. 

You can’t argue against the fact that the trio in question has been very successful in their endeavours, and given the almost inexhaustible potential supply of bodies still crying out to be dug up and given a once over, you feel there could be quite a few more of these releases to come.

Whether or not it will be of lasting value is another question entirely though.

For instance, those brought up on the 1960’s arrangements of Frank Wright might well believe it some sort of sacrilege that anyone would even contemplate fiddling about with the viscera of Lalo’s ‘Le Roi d’Ys’. However, with the slow march of time, the vast majority of those old test piece standard bearers have been shown for what they were – pretty monochrome and limited.

The problem lies however with the scope of what the new arranger has actually undertaken and the perception that it creates.

Are the new arrangements substantially different in concept and structure, and as a result, are they any better?

It’s a bit yes and no.

It wouldn’t be too difficult to improve on Wright’s efforts given the greater awareness of the potential tonal colours and blends that modern arrangers are able to call upon, but does that mean that the end result brings something innovative and fresh to the end result?

Lorriman is a undoubtedly a talented arranger (plus a fine sleeve note writer), but you remain unconvinced that what he has done to each of the pieces in question brings us anything other than a well executed cosmetic make over (although there are two new arrangements here). 

The confines of the basic structure of the overture (and of the brass band for that matter) allows for limited scope in comprehensive restructuring, but whilst the likes of Howard Snell would surely have brought a kaleidoscope of colour and inventiveness to bear (just listen to his arrangement of Berlioz’s ‘Waverley’), Lorriman seems reluctant to explore potential new avenues of the tonal palette.

We do get the odd eyebrow raising moment, but it’s rather like looking at Joan Rivers from afar – the effects of the make up and the odd nip and tuck may give the impression that she is in remarkable shape, but a closer glance and you can still see the crows feet, chicken wing arms and the liver spots. 

That’s the perception anyway.

As for the execution? Dyke are on pretty good form – not at their very best mind you, but still with the ability to thrill when required. Each of the performances has an orchestral breadth of feel and the clarity of detail Lorriman has unearthed in each of the pieces does come through.

We have heard a few of these pieces before on CD, and the opening ‘Rienzi’ does come across as somewhat scrappy in places, whilst ‘Oberon’, ‘Sicilian Vespers’, ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ and ‘Nabucco’ don’t really bring us anything that we don’t already know and have heard before.  This new arrangement of ‘Nabucco’ in particular is an acquired taste – lending itself an academic feel devoid of any sense of heartfelt emotion.

The two new arrangements of Auber’s elegant ‘Marco Spader’ and de Binner’s sprightly ‘Il Re Di Vapore’ are interesting if a little lightweight and repetitive, but it is the reworking of Lalo’s ‘Le Roi d’Ys’ that will surely get the tongues wagging.

This is a very clever overhaul; nothing too dramatic to enhance or detract from Wright’s iconic treatment of the subject matter – and that is a great pity. You are left wondering that it has been nothing more than a high quality tinkering job – a few well placed changes here and there, but nothing too innovative. The old girl has had a facial, manicure and blue rinse, when what she really needed was a complete Trinny & Susannah overhaul and as a result leaves you disappointed at an opportunity lost.

It will be interesting to see and hear what next this interesting series brings.

Iwan Fox

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

^back to top