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Fiedler's recording of Gaite Parisienne was made in 1954 and must have been state-of-the-art technically, as it had the highest honor in the Penguin Guide for as long as I can remember. It's a stunner even by today's standards. A slight edge to the trumpet and percussion give the music a compelling French flavor. Fiedler's fast tempi emphasize the music's high spirits. Indeed, the hijinx tend to be a bit unrelenting and one might have welcomed more polish and relaxation for contrast. The Waltzes and the famous Barcarolle, however, are all warmly characterized. The Respighi selection is a worthy coupling, a performance that is sophisticated yet fizzes. This is a reissue not just for nostalgia buffs but audiophiles and music lovers as well.