Barber: Orchestral Works

Advantages: good accoustic definition, paced, broody, relentless, emotional
Disadvantages: none

...Like Vivaldies evergreen "Four Seasons", Barber's Addagio has caught the imagination of the populist Naughties culture when it was recently resampled & mixed into a more contemporary format a few months ago. however, it is to the original Barber piece that I really find one of the most highly charged & emotional scores anywhere. it is not a piece to brighten the heart & mind, it is quite the opposite. Depending on your frame of mind this can be quite a depressing score but it has the uncanny facility to carry you wherever your mind wants to take you. Although slow all the way through, it feels as if it flies by in no time at all, but so good is the power of the performance that you have to repeat the track over & over because your emotions want to be carried further & further away. This is Barber's most noted score and deserves its... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great track with soaring breakdown and strings
Disadvantages: My parents hate it, even though it has strings and is easy on the ears.

...Okay, classical music, i.e. strings are not exactly popular apart from the following exceptions of modern remakes. There is only one, William Orbit (Madonna's producer for 'Ray Of Light') with Barber's Adagio For String which had the remix treatment by Ferry Corsten. Now, this list can now be extended quite far. It's cannot be rated next to Mozart or Debussy at all, but Hybrid has pulled out the stops here with Wider Angle, which is their album Wide Angle with a live CD with 60 minute Mix and bonus tracks and the single 'Kid 2000' which features Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. Now Hybrid is a solemn combination of Breakbeat and Trance, but they have utilised the talents of the Russian Federal Orchestra with Orchestral pieces written by Sacha Puttham. The Live CD is completely frenetic with fast beats that will have anyone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Comic opera at it's best
Disadvantages: Can be difficult to follow

...to this as I recommend that you do, you will not be disappointed. This could become as popular as the Barber of Saville. All in all, an excellent example of Rossini’s work.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful