Albinoni: Concerti grossi, Op.9

Advantages: Relaxing, serene, dreamy
Disadvantages: The first track is not actual Albinoni

...is a compilation of Albinoni’s slower movements released on the Elektra label on the 24th August 1999. It has a running time of 1 hour 15 minutes and costs £6.99. I purchased my copy from Borders but the CD should be available at most good music shops. The Composer Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni was born on 8th June 1671 in Venice Italy, the eldest son of a wealthy paper merchant. A renowned violinist and composer, he preferred to work “dilettante” rather than seek employment with the church or court. Albinoni married an opera singer, Margherita Raimondi. Apart from this, not much more is actually known of Albinoni's life. In all Albinoni composed 81 operas, 99 sonatas, 59, concertos and 9 sinfonias. However, so much of his musical work has been lost particularly during the latter years of World War II and the bombing of the Dresden State library... Read review

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Advantages: Good tuba muisc
Disadvantages: None

...The tuba has generally been ignored as a solo instrument, and although it enjoyed some success in Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and the operas of Wagner, it didnt really emerge as a solo instrument until the 20th century. However, recently the tuba's potential as a soloist has been realised through the children's tale, Tubby the Tuba, where the whole point of the story is to highlight the fact that most peoploe would not think the tuba of being capable in taking a soloistic role, but the fact that it can take this role, and take it extremely successfully is shown here in this CD with these four Tuba Concerti, that were all written in the years after Tubby the Tuba. The first Tuba Concerto on the CD is Tuba Concerto (1978) by Edward Gregson. 1 - Allegro deciso 2 - Lento e mesto 3 - Allegro giocoso This concerto begins with a fanfare... Read review

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Advantages: Gorgeous music, played with much passion
Disadvantages: None really

...a particular interest in more unusual repertoire. One of the great advantages of this CD which should make it even more attractive to the potential buyer, is that both artists have frequently worked together in the past, which in my opinion is always a good thing when it comes to collaborating on a recording. The orchestra is the BBC Scottish Symphony. Music and Performances: Ernö Dohnányi (1877-1960) - Konzertstück in D major Op. 12: Dohnányi was born in Bratislava (his grandson is the eminent conductor Christoph von Dohnányi) and first established himself as a virtuoso pianist. However, after Johannes Brahms complimented him on his first composition efforts, he combined his playing career with his composing. Dohnányi's music is very much in the Brahmsian, Romantic tradition and this is especially evident in the Konzertstück, which... Read review

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