Arriaga/Mozart: Symphonies

Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments
Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.

...of the original performances. The works would have been played in a mixed programme of both vocal and instrumental works. This allowed for a rich cross pollination of ideas from theatre. Beethoven is using what he was provided with from his predecessors and making each symphony a drama. The London Classical Players have been in many performances both here and abroad of music in period form. They have performed works by Handel, Bach, Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. This has been well received by the public. The Schutz Choir of London started life in 1962, and carried out 10 years research into choral works. They became professional in 1973 and broke new ground in Baroque music. With Sir Roger they have performed works by Monteverdi, Bach, Handel, and Mozart. Haydn and Schubert. The choir has toured extensively. The original set was a six boxed set from... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Excellent piece - real emotion
Disadvantages: none

...It is hard to believe that Gustav Mahler was so unappreciated and often viewed as a conductor who occasionally wrote "overlong" symphonies. This work is certainly one of the greatest ever written and would certainly not look out-of-place along side works by masters like Beethoven and Mozart. People often do not like this symphony and others by Mahler, simply because they do not understand it. The entire work is a collection of emotions, as they were experienced by the composer. Therefore, to see the music properly, the listener must feel those emotions too. It is therefore impossible to approach the work from a critical and analytical point of view. The emotion that exists in the score alone is incredible. The adagietto, though often considered to be a calm and relaxing piece, is one of the most painful pieces to listen... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Pleasant melodies, good structure
Disadvantages: not terribly adventurous in harmony

...Franz Joseph Haydn's music is interesting as it is pleasant to listen to. Although he is actually Austrian, most of Haydn's music was written in Hungary for Prince Esterhazy's twice weekly dinner parties. Which meant that many of Haydn's symphonies and string quartets were written in less than four days - quite an achievement, when you consider the length of time his contemporaries spent writing similar works. Haydn wrote and conducted high standard early classical style classics for a small group of musicians who were employed by the Prince. And it is in many of Haydn's pieces that we can begin to have an insight into the life of him and his musicians. For example, the "Surprise Symphony" was written with the party gusts in mind. It begins in a plodding, slow mesmerising rhythm, which the already bloated and drowsy guests would... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful