VICTOR HERBERT: SUITE FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA;...

VICTOR HERBERT: SUITE FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA; “AIR DE BALLET”; “SUNSET”; “FORGET-ME-NOT”; SERENADE FOR STRING ORCHESTRA. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz, conductor. Nonesuch Digital 79107. Herbert’s music is that of a happy man in a hopeful century (the last one). His melodic gift, both the base on which his works stand and the summit to which they reach, sings with a sweet, sweet breath. This is light music: its rhythms soothe, its chords temper, its mood never stoops to sadness. The LACO plays with easy tempos and honeyed tone, allowing the music to breathe easily and uncloak all its romantic charms.