Everybody wants to do "A Lincoln Portrait" and sometimes the choice of Speaker is ludicrous (not the rap star). The Worst - Adlai Stevenson - The Best - Heston. Okay put your political prejudices aside and concentrate on performance. Heston's tonality and modulation are simply Lincolnesque. He never goes over the top - and "of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth" are spoken from the gut without histrionics but with enough emotion to put a tear in your eye. The work of Abravanel and the Utah Symphony Orchestra is simply marvelous. Although this was recorded on analog tape, the dynamics are almost digital but warmer. Also the music from "Our Town" which somebody ought to remake is quietly evocative and lovely; "Outdoor Overture" which I played in high school is just a lot of fun. "Quiet City" is a better piece than most people realize - if the trumpet isn't just right it falls flat - suffice it to say this performance doesn't. The Morton Gould piece is worth a mention, but I'm conflicted by Morton, whom I've always considered a better orchestrator than composer of original music. This recording is a keeper. --D. Barrett "Starcastle"
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