Audio CD review:
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies - Davies: Mavis in Las Vegas

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies - Davies: Mavis in Las Vegas

Band: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Title: Davies: Mavis in Las Vegas Rating: Release Date: 1998-05-19 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Ojai Festival Ov - BBC Phil/Davies 2: Mavis in Las Vegas - BBC Phil/Davies 3: Carolísima: Serenade for CO - Scottish CO/Davies 4: A Spell for Green Corn: The MacDonald Dances - James Clark 5: An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise - George MacIlwham

Great fun! Great sound! This world, at times, stinks. When Collins Classics went under the waves it took with it a substantial Peter Maxwell Davies catalogue along with a number of other joys. This is one of the most fun CDs I own. The collection was intentionally put together to highlight this less serious side of the composer's personality. Sound and performances are top notch. The title track is a stitch, almost a tribute to Charles Ives convolutedly via Gershwin, Duke Ellington and the Sands Hotel and Casino on a busy night. There are echos of this sort of thing in John Adams but Davies is the better composer--possibly by a long shot--and it sounds more sincere coming from him. Not fluff, this is a substantial piece with an absolutely magical opening. Also on the disc are two items that seem justifiably destined for regular spots in the repertoire: the Ojai Festival Overture and An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise. Collins stuff is still floating around for the time being so get it while you can. . You can see a complete list of all Sir Peter Maxwell Davies discography, or go back to the Sir Peter Maxwell Davies tabs