Here's one I missed. Nah...I didn't miss all that much

​I listened to this 2015 Naxos disc several years ago, but just discovered I never got around to posting a review of it here. Listening to it again, I can understand why. It is enjoyable in its way, but not in any way motivating or inspiring.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra plays well enough and Lance Friedel leads them competently. But, it all sounds as if their hearts are not really into it. Friedel establishes perfectly acceptable, sensible tempos. And it's clear the orchestra is sight-reading; they scramble a bit here and there, with less than perfect ensemble. Unfortunately none of this lends a feel of spontaneity as it should. Rather, there's a curious sense of ho-hum detachment, almost disinterest, all through this program. Quite simply, it lacks the sheer verve and unbuttoned high spirits that Arthur Fiedler (Boston Pops) and Leonard Bernstein (NY Phil) brought to this repertoire. (They both recorded nearly all of these overtures in the late 50s/early 60s for RCA and CBS, respectively - all of which are readily available on various compilation CDs.)

The sound on CD is good, without being excellent. It needs a little more spaciousness and air. By the end, I was tiring a bit of the somewhat cramped, cavernous acoustic and slightly congested textures. A quick sampling of some 50-year-old Fiedler and Bernstein CDs highlights it even further.

I was intrigued to hear Naxos's companion Blu-ray release of this very same program. In sum, it does sound better than the CD. It is less brash, more refined, spacious and natural. The Blu-ray offers DTS surround and 2-channel PCM. Unfortunately, the improvement in sound does nothing to improve the readings themselves. They still sound routine.

The title of this disc, "Great Comedy Overtures", actually illustrates exactly what's missing here: these do not sound in the slightest comedic, or even very much fun. It's all perfunctory and determinedly serious. Still, it does fill a gap in modern digital recordings of this repertoire. And it is enjoyable enough to listen to while, perhaps, cleaning the house or preparing dinner. So it has its place. But do go for the Blu-ray if you have the necessary equipment.