“The Barcelona orchestra responds to the assignment in high style; their playing is vigorous and zesty. When orchestras don’t condescend to “popular” music, it always sounds better, and this is the case here. The Spanish musicians take their work seriously, elevating the music in the process. Nesterowicz’s direction is fine. Add Naxos’s good sound and lovers of high quality light music will be happy.”

“70 minutes of ballet music composed by one of the masters of the opera ballet, Giacomo Meyerbeer, in bright performances! Michal Nesterowicz’s tempi are flawless, and he cares for much of clarity, so that Meyerbeer’s music is never pompously overblown.” *****

“It’s good…to have these opera-ballet scores collected together in a modern recording that, at Naxos’s competitive price point, may attract buyers hitherto unfamiliar with them. The Barcelona players are clearly a very accomplished group, with the woodwinds making a particularly positive impression. Conductor Michal Nesterowicz directs the orchestra with conviction and skill and benefits from a recording venue that, with the help of skilled engineering, captures all the musical detail clearly. Providing the icing on this tempting cake, Robert Ignatius Letellier, the author of several studies of Meyerbeer, has penned some very useful booklet notes…Overall, then, it is difficult to see how a stronger case might be made for this music.”

“Ballet music has its own sense of direction, movement and dialogue, helping lay out the choreographic footwork for dancers who take to the floor within the elaborate realm of French grand opéra. Michal Nesterowicz leads a fine interpretation of this highly specialized music.”  ***

Album of the Week

“Giacomo Meyerbeer was one of the most famous opera composers of the 19th century, innovative in his gorgeous choral writing, huge finales, and supernatural and religious subject matter. But for various reasons he slowly sunk into the shadows of history. In recent years, his ballet music has come back into the spotlight. He churned out acres of it, after all, and some of it holds up well on its own. That includes Robert le Diable (Robert the Devil), a work containing the curious “ballet of the nuns.” That work, along with Les Huguenots and Le Prophète were included in the opening season of the Metropolitan Opera in 1883-84 and included here. Most engaging is L’Africaine with the exotic orchestral color of its Marche indienne.”

“These Naxos opera-ballet collections are really rather good. I was particularly impressed with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra…they are conducted by Michal Nesterowicz… This is a most entertaining collection…and, as expected, the orchestra really enters into the spirit of this music …great fun.”