If you like your Rossini to be as fast and flashy as possible, don't go here! This does not infer the performances are not exciting when they need to be - indeed the technical prowess of this small orchestra is vastly impressive. What stands out, are the numerous attention to detail touches, the phrase shaping and balance between the players - so many times, I have just smiled at the new things that have registered, in fact, these performances are a revelation. The sound acoustic just varies a small amount on some tracks - never remotely poor - and at it's best, absolute demonstration quality. Fantastic!
Italianate, but lacking the refinement of Abbado in particular, Muti and Chailly in this repertory. The orchestra plays well, is well captured by EMI (prior to the Warner takeover). I have no fundamental criticisms but I came away with the overall impression of good form over fair substance. I'd get Abbado's DG and Sony-RCA traversal of the Rossini Overtures instead, or Chailly's 2 CD box of them. For those really wanting thoroughly American excitement, Reiner and Szell have a CD each of a limited part of the Rossini Overture repertory which are mindbendlingly exciting. For those wnating a complete Rossini compendium, the only real choice is Marriner who is highly refined but lacking Italianate humor. Nevertheless, Marriner's is a fine recording and worthy of being in one's collection.