Beethoven: Cello Works

Advantages: a new take on a familiar warhorse
Disadvantages: is it worth full price?

...It's unlikely that any music lover who has a good recording of Beethoven's violin concerto on CD (say: Perlman, Grumiaux or Szigeti) would ever say to him or herself: 'boy, I wonder what that sounds like on the clarinet'. In fact, the only people who might would be clarinetists, for they tend to feel (mistakenly, as it happens)that there just isn't enough original repertoire written for their instrument. So here, spanking new, is a Deutsche Grammophon CD offering us an original work in Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and an arrangement of the Beethoven prepared by Russian pianist/conductor Mikhail Pletnev. The soloist is Michael Collins, who plays the familiar Mozart on his basset horn with all the joy and panache we expect. The Beethoven is a different cup of tea. It's difficult to listen to the famous melodies without hearing the fiddle (or... Read review

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Advantages: The music, the chorus, the memorable melody
Disadvantages: None

...Probably the best symphony in the world (the Carlsberg of symphonies). I can’t imagine how a piece of music of this stature could have been composed by someone who was completely deaf. Genius knows no bounds. The Composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the German City of Bonn and baptised on the 17th December 1770. Amongst his many works, Beethoven composed nine complete symphonies and what is thought to be a tenth which is incomplete. In 1817 Beethoven accepted an invitation from the Philharmonic Society of London to write two symphonies. He never actually completed these commissions however he was inspired to write the ninth symphony which he completed in1824. In May of the same year the symphony was débuted in Vienna. Beethoven was present at this performance but by this time he was completely deaf. He was seated at the front... Read review

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Advantages: Contrasting: dramatic and relaxing, darkness to light
Disadvantages: Frustrating if you live in a city

...I studied Beethoven as an Open University course leading to a Degree in Music which I achieved in 2002. My admiration of Beethoven is immense. The sixth symphony has to be one of all time favourites: an homage to the countryside. The Composer Beethoven has to be the most dynamic and original of all composers. His work influenced and inspired so many orchestral works that followed. He was born in Bonn in Western Germany in 1770. It was while he was in his twenties that he first became aware of his hearing problems. When he was told that the condition could not be cured, he understandibly fell into a deep depression. Thankfully he came through and began to explore new approaches to compositional techniques. The Music Both the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies are large scale performances lastly for approximately 4o minutes each. They were... Read review

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