Advantages: beautifully composed, orchestrated and performed Disadvantages: not for the "sing-a-long" musician
...yes thats right folks! Gerald Finzi's music can be described as many things, but genius must be one of them.
Gerald Finzi was a British composer in the early 20thCentury. Though mostly known for his choral works and hymns, his orchestral pieces give him standing among the all-time musical greats.
With an incredible understanding of counterpoint and harmony all the music is atmospheric and paints scenes of true England: rolling hills and valleys, greenery and wildlife. It is true, that a musician's world can be portrayed through his work.
The clarinet works, performed by Robert plane, are masterfully directed and performed, keeping close to the original scores even throughout the cadenzas and most intricate of passages.
This is the album I put on for stress-busting, though its not for the sing-along istener (no lyrics!), nor...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: The finest recording on two CDs Disadvantages: You can only listen to one CD at a time!
...This double CD from a large collection brings together what are considered to be the finst recordings
ever made by the artist. The version of Rachmaninov's Piano Cencerto No. 3 is perhaps the definitive
recording: technically brilliant and a joy to listen to, and by far my favourite version. She has chosen the scherzo-like cadenza
which Rachmaninov himself favoured. Also featured are Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Ravel's
Gaspard de la Nuit among other things. For pianomusic lovers, these are some of the best recordings I have heard.
Highly recommended to all....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 01.08.2000
The Piano Review ofNyman: The Piano Original Soundtrackby
berlioz
Advantages: Great tunes Disadvantages: Recorded quality and overall blandness
...-nineteenth centurymusic but not pastiche and obviously written in 1992." Nyman opted the use of Scottish folk and popular songs as the basis of the music. And since Ada doesn't speak, the sound of the piano becomes her character, her expressions, her mood, her body language and her unspoken dialogue.
The sound quality of the album, unfortunately, is not really that great. The recorded sound, especially with the orchestra, is harsh and lacks subtlety. Moreover, most of the tracks end as if cut short, as if the players suddenly decided to stop playing, tired of trying to get to the end. This sounds very distracting, and ruins some of the best pieces. There are three soloists playing multiple instruments, with Michael Nyman himself playing the piano and conducting the members of the Munich Philharmonic. Apart from the orchestra, the solo piano pieces...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 05.05.2004
(06.05.2004)
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