Bach: Masses in B minor and F

Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing.
Disadvantages: Nil.

...with such vivacity, tenderness and sensitivity as these are – then I turn into a harmless, non-homicidal and blissfully happy Bachmaniac. For a glimpse of pure trumpet heaven, there’s the lively, minor-key Badinerie, lifted from the Orchestral Suite No. 2 (originally written for solo flute and strings), on which Ms Balsom plays a solo piccolo trumpet (the highest-pitched one). And if you’re seeking some lovely pathos to enjoy, there’s the Agnus Dei from the Mass in B minor. Here the trumpet’s mournfulness is no less affecting than the original version with voice, supplemented as it is with textural harmonic counterpoint from the violin, organ and viola da gamba. But really, mere words still fail me in this attempt to capture the all-around excellence of this disc. Go and listen to the music for yourself. Following are a few... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Everything you could ever want from a classical CD
Disadvantages: none

...by Aaron Copland 47. Die Walküre Composed by Richard Wagner 48. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B flat minor Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky 49. (6) Brandenburg Concertos Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach 50. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in D minor Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov 51. 1812 Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky 52. Symphony No. 9, 'Choral' in D minor Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven 53. Carmen Composed by Georges Bizet 54. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5, 'Emperor' in E flat Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven 55. Pomp and Circumstance Composed by Sir Edward Elgar... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A definite easy listen
Disadvantages: Maybe too easy

...- Romance Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Elgar - Chanson de matin Beethoven - Pastoral Symphony CD 2 Mozart - 'Elvira Madigan' Piano Concerto JS Bach - Sheep may safely graze JS Bach - Keyboard Concerto No 5 in F minor Handel - Water Music Vivaldi - Concerto for lute and two violins JS Bach - Aria Grieg - Piano Concerto JS Bach - Double Violin Concerto Monteverdi - Beatus vir Chopin - Etude in E 'Tristesse' Elgar - Serenade in E minor Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No 2 Barber - Adagio for String Faure - In paradisum - Schubert - String Quintet Faure - Berceuse x-x-x... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful