Aho: Symphonies Nos 2 & 7

Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven
Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles

..., like most of the other symphonies on these recordings, is taken at a fairly free and flowing speed. The Menuetto has such rustic bouncyness that it foreshadows the scherzos Beethoven would write later in his career and finally the Finale makes some quite exciting passages with the brass and timpani. I have never really paid too much attention to the First Symphony (it is still so rooted in Haydn), but this performance has really made a good case for the more exciting aspects of the work. A very satisfying experience. Symphony No.2 in D major, Op.36 Likewise the Second Symphony rises as a highlight in this set. Again taken at a brisk pace it brings a heightened sense of novelty that the people first hearing it might have experienced. The accented drama comes very well off in this powerful performance that fits well... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Choral Symphony
Disadvantages: Nothing

...On the first time, The Nineth Symphony of Beethoven is kwoning like "Choral Symphony" because in the foursth and the last movement it is singing by a Tenor, Baritone, Soprano and Messo Soprano Voices with a Choral Voices that they are singing in another way the "joy song". This symphony (the last one) of Beethoven was released the May 7th of 1821 when he was a deaf person, so he never could listen his composition years at 3 or 4 years after Beethoven died. So it was his last composition, been for me the best compousers. In the first movement of this Symphony "Allegro ma non troppo" begining with the introduction of wind instrument like oboe and the violas and violin continues the music and then continues with this music specially the wind instrument with a hard musical notes that it is characteristic of this 15 minutes music... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great passion, beautiful melodies, unrestrained romanticism
Disadvantages: The finale doesn't quite convince in it's purpose

...HAPPINESS, OR TRAGEDY? After the doom-laden confessional that was the Fourth Symphony, Tchaikovsky was finally getting more in peace with himself. His fame began to spread and by 1885 he was already considered a national hero. This time saw the maturation of Tchaikovsky's style from the more blatantly folk-song oriented works and the more youthfully turbulent ideas to a more mainstream and calmer drift. Following the Fourth Symphony came the Violin Concerto, the Second Piano Concerto, the colourful overtures Capriccio Italien (composed during his bright stay at Italy) and 1812 (with the famous cannon-fire finale), the subtle String Serenade, the elegiac Piano Trio, a couple of small operas, and the large scale Manfred Symphony, amid some smaller scale works, all predominately genial in character. In 1888, after getting over his fear... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful