Les Sylphides / Love For Three Oranges vinyl

Arthur Fiedler's long tenure with the Boston Pops produced a vast archive of recordings, many leaning into fan-serving territory, but this collection proves the orchestra's range extended far beyond light classical fare. Here, Prokofiev's 'Three Oranges Suite' gets a full wax treatment, moving well beyond its often-isolated 'March' into the suite's other vivid vignettes. The rearrangement of 'Les Sylphides' tiptoes between charm and kitsch, while Liszt's symphonic poems receive unexpectedly muscular renderings. 'Mazeppa' bursts with theatric flair, while 'Les Preludes' is approached with drive and precision, opposing overcooked symbolism. Fiedler's flair for drama never came at the expense of control, and this set captures a conductor who bridged populism and classical heft with confidence.