Don Juan

asin: B00000I75U binding: Audio CD list price: $16.98 USD amazon price: $16.98

One of Inbal's strongest suits as a conductor is ability to shape large-scale works effectively. Ein Heldenleben, a 45-minute single movement for huge orchestra, is one of the largest, as well as one of the most successful. Inbal succeeds in rooting out a continuous melodic line, which requires constant attention to the balances, and strong playing from the instrumentalists. The Suisse Romande has some impressive first-desk wind and brass soloists, and--except in the most massive passages, where it lacks the sheer heft of the great German orchestras--plays well. Don Juan, an marvelously energetic, swaggering portrayal, receives an effective performance, but not as well as does Heldenleben, which is comparable to the best already available. The recorded sound, on both works, is top-flight. --Paul Turok

asin: B00000604Q binding: Audio CD list price: $17.98 USD amazon price: $17.98 USD

Wilhelm Mengelberg was one of the great conductors of the century and this 1928 Heldenleben is one of the great recordings of the century. There's a comprehensive mastery in this recording that made it an instant classic when it was first released and it continues to repay repeated hearings. Mengelberg's interpretive subtleties enliven what often seems just a pot-boiler; his sensitive rubatos and discreet portamentos make phrases come alive. The orchestra is perfection itself, and concertmaster Scipione Guidi's rapt violin solos are riveting. Mark Obert-Thorn's transfers make the recording sound as if it was made two decades later. The Concertgebouw items, from 1938 and 1942, are also compelling, with a fleet, vivacious Don Juan the main attraction. --Dan Davis