Various Composers - Scottish Overtures [Gibson-The Scottish National Orchestra] Now here's a nice little disc of Overtures around the theme of 'Scotland', which mixes the familiar [Mendelssohn], with the less well known [Arnold & MacCunn], more discs should be produced like this, i'm sure that there are many unknown works lasting roughly 10 minutes that you could throw on a compilation, Composers that would have a hard time having their big works known more, would find it easier having a shorter work heard.
Alexander Gibson was a Scottish Conductor, he passed away 165 years ago, and this disc was recorded in 1981, Chandos Records are a wonderful disc label, making many innovative recordings, this is one of their very earliest discs, right at the beginning of the digital era, the photo on the front cover [by Derek Foss] is very good, a picture of a couple of Red Highland cows on Loch Slapin, Scotland, lovely blues and greens in the picture, it's the lettering which is ingenious, covering all the works, and all the Composers in one central box.heard.
I must admit i liked the Verdi Ballet music the best, this is a work i have never heard before, and i certainly like it a lot.
Here's Edward Downes playing the opening of the Verdi piece on YouTube.
