LOUIS ETIENNE ERNEST REYER (1823-1909): Le Sélam.

Description: OK, this is a three-disc set full of "oriental" music by the usual suspects (Scheherazades by Rimsky and Ravel, Mozart's Abduction overture, Bizet's Pearl Fishers overture, etc. ad nauseam). The Reyer (1850) should have been reissued separately on Capriccio like the Felicien David Le desert two months ago - but no. Still, it's no more expensive than it was almost 20 years ago as a single disc and its five movements (50 min.) offer all the pseudo-oriental exoticism you would expect from French composers of the period. No texts. Gertrud Ottenthal (soprano), Bruno Lazzaretti (tenor), Wolfgang Glashof (baritone), Choir of St. Hedwig's Cathedral Berlin, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; Guido Maria Guida. Original 1991 Capriccio release.