Rene Leibowitz - An Evening Of Opera (1991)

This is a marvelous release, the excerpts given all being in excellent sound and stylish interpretations. Rene Leibowitz should have been better known as a conductor. The Carmen excerpts here are all played with a keen sense of French style. The Manon Lescaut excerpt gives full rein to Puccini's dramatic sense (although Leibowitz is just slightly reserved compared to some Italian Maestri). Auber here? Who does Auber? Well, the Crown Diamonds Overture is here and is a smashingly good rendition. How nice to have the Prince Igor Overture right next to Borodin's dances from the same opera. Mozart's Marriage of Figaro Overture is beautifully played, but sounds a little out of place in these colorful other pieces.