Akses: String Quartets 1 & 4

Advantages: Great music, great performances
Disadvantages: Unfamiliarity

...I’ve loved the Piano Quartet since first hearing it on R3. Written at Oxford as a teenager it is an astounding (and humbling) creation, which betrays its creators years if you can mentally re-score sections, such as the opening of the last movement, for a rock band – those pounding chords and short motifs are heavy-metal rifs for piano and strings! The ‘rock’ turns into ragtime at the end – not sure if that’s progress but it’s definitely fun! The rest of the disc will not disappoint – except for the teenager’s complaint (mine!) that it’s not loud enough!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: dynamic and gripping
Disadvantages: none

...Fantastic to have another additional collection of all five of Beethoven's piano concerti. Spanning his life we can really get to grips with his evolving use of the orchestra in these works. From the Third's action packed finale to the Fourth's beautiful expressions to the grandeur of the much loved Fifth. The playing is precise, dramatic and full of energy; as indeed it should be. Aimard's playing is always well crafted and beautifully shaped. This is an insightful disk and has taken the musicians an awful lot of hard work. A must-have for any lover of Beethoven's piano music. If you usually go for his chamber music or string quartets why not branch out and explore Aimard's wonderful take on these concerti? Well worth buying and indeed an inspiration for myself and other pianists alike.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Recognisable tunes
Disadvantages: Neither fish nor foul. Best stick to the original

..., as here, are reproductions of a single album track by track. Their output to date has been both prodigious, varied and at times esoteric with features on such names as Led Zeppelin, Bjork, David Bowie, Madonna and Yanni. At the last count Vitamin Records lists 198 titles!! So who are "The String Quartet Tribute"? Well, despite my best research efforts I'm still not too sure. I'm not even clear whether 'Tribute' is part of the group's name or whether it belongs in the title of each of their albums. They are led, at least in this instance, by Todd Mark Rubinstein who plays cello and bass. On the album under review the other performers are David Davison - 1st violin - and Paul Tobias - viola and 2nd violin (hey - doesn't that make a trio?!). They are joined on three tracks variously by Dominic Hradek (cello), Wesley Hredek (violin), Johnny... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful