Album

These recordings from 1970 through 1974 represent the cream of the crop of James Galway's recordings as the principal flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic, and for what it is, it can't be beat. Although Galway's tone of molten gold and technique of tensile steel is evident on every track from his warmly romantic Morning Mood from Grieg's Peer Gynt through his warmly lyric Concertante Andante grazioso from Mozart's "Posthorn" Serenade to his warmly erotic Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome, only fans will instantly pick out his playing from the uniformly voluptuous sonorities of the Berlin Philharmonic at the height of Herbert von Karajan's power. Certainly, Galway is lovely in the Concertante, but who would say he is lovelier than clarinetist Lothar Koch? Surely Galway is affecting in the Domine Deus from Bach's B minor Mass, but who would say he is more affecting than soprano Gundula Janowitz or tenor Peter Schreier? And in the four movements excerpted from two of Reicha's Wind Quintets, Galway is only one of five fabulous players and no better than those he's with, which is, of course, the highest possible praise; these are all first desk players with the most virtuosic orchestra in the world. Perhaps only fans of the Irish flutist will seek out these performances, but they will no doubt be fully satisfied by what they hear. DG's early-'70s stereo sound is as good as stereo recordings can get, that is to say, absolutely transparent.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Edvard Grieg Composer Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46 Work Recorded 1971 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
1	1.Morgenstemning (Morning Mood)	3:58			$0.99
Georges Bizet Composer L' Arlésienne Suite No.1 (from the incidental music) Work Recorded 1970 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
2	4.Carillon	4:01			$0.99
Georges Bizet Composer L' Arlésienne Suite No.2 (from the incidental music) Work Recorded 1970 9:46 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
3	1.Pastorale: Andante sostenuto assai	5:47			$0.99
4	3.Menuet: Andantino quasi Allegretto	3:59			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Mass in B-, BWV232 Work Recorded 1974 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
5	2e.Gloria: Domine Deus	6:12			$0.99
Franz Danzi Composer Quintet for winds No.1 in Bb, Op.56, No.1 Work Recorded 1970 8:11 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
6	1.Allegretto	5:15			$0.99
7	4.Allegro	2:56			$0.99
Antonín Reicha Composer Woodwind Quintet in C, Op.91, No.1 Work Recorded 1970 12:53 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
8	3.Menuetto: Allegro	5:43			$0.99
9	4.Rondo: Finale - Allegro	7:10			$1.49
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Serenade D, K.320 ('Posthorn') Work Recorded 1970 13:59 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
10	3.Concertante: Andante grazioso	7:48			$1.49
11	4.Rondeau: Allegro ma non troppo	6:11			$0.99
Giuseppe Verdi Composer Aida (opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1970-1971 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
12	12.High Priestess, Chorus and Radames: Sacred Dance of the Priestesses Immenso Fthà	2:17			$0.99
Giuseppe Verdi Composer Aida (opera)...Act 2 Work Recorded 1970-1971 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
13	2.Orchestra: Dance of the Moorish Slaves	1:33			$0.49
Richard Strauss Composer Salome's Dance (after the opera), TrV215a Work Recorded 1972-1973 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Galway Flute
14	Salome's Dance (after the opera), TrV215a	10:09			$1.99