100 Years Of The Movies - BBC Concert Orchestra

Advantages: This is a recording containing excellent content, with wonderful sound quality due to top-notch recording technique, and the presence of stellarly talented artists.
Disadvantages: It is often disappointing to be listening to a wonderful piece of music only to discover that merely a portion of the piece is contained on the recording.

...This is an eclectic and, at the same time, fascinating recording. It contains some of the more interesting repertoire of one of the USA's most famous and talented symphony orchestras, along with an assortment of conductors long-attached to the CSO. In short, my favorite piece among all of those contained in this collection, is the Mahler Symphony No. 8. For anyone who knows this piece, they will be more than pleased by this performance. The conducting, orchestra playing, choral singing and preparation, and soloist singing is almost unmatched. Especially notable is the performance of the Mater Gloriosa, a somewhat thankless role, performed especially beautifully by soprano Jann Jaffe. Of course, anyone who knows the piece cannot help but be drawn to this music. This famous "Symphony of a Thousand" is a masterpiece whose listening... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: great big band music
Disadvantages: none

...the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. After the liberation of France, the band was due to fly to Paris on the 16th December, but he wanted to get there early to make preparations for the concerts. On the 15th December 1944, Glenn Miller, and Norman Baesell, together with their pilot, took off to Paris from an airfield near Bedford. They were never seen again. Five days later, an official bulletin was issued to say that Major Glenn Miller was "missing in flight, presumed to be lost". On Christmas Eve that year the world learned that Glenn Miller was dead. The band continued with the tour and played their last concert in Le Havre. So what songs does the Glenn Miller Orchestra play? Some of the songs that they play, used from the original score that Glenn Miller used himself include: A string of pearls American patrol Chattanooga... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: The first Moody Blues concept album. Is this what started prog rock?
Disadvantages: Perhaps a little dated - but it is 40 years old!

.... 1. The Day Begins. **** A long crescendo gong roll lasting 38 seconds ushers in the overture played by the orchestra. This mirrors the classical perspective with refrains from all the tracks. The orchestral pieces are perhaps the most dated of the tracks and could easily have graced a 1960s film or television series score. It does however include Graeme's spoken introduction. 2. Dawn *** The orchestral introduction merges into a slow rocker that sets the tone for the project: a plea to accept your lot and enjoy the present. 'Dawn is a feeling, a beautiful ceiling, the smell of grass makes you pass into a dream … this day will last a thousand years - if you want it to' (%% - I wonder what smell was being referred to in the mid 1960s) 3. The Morning *** An up tempo ballad from Ray Thomas which describes childhood pleasures... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful