Brahms: Cello Sonatas

Advantages: Mutter's eloquence and sensitivity in older recording are enhanced here.
Disadvantages: None at all!

...As a fantastically talented eighteen-year-old, Anne-Sophie Mutter already awed me with her sensitive and thoughtful eloquence in her 1981 recording of the Brahms violin concerto (with Herbert von Karajan directing the Berlin Philharmonic). However, there’s an even deeper understanding in Mutter’s reading of the Brahms piece on this newer disc. This performance was taped live at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, New York City, in 1997. Kurt Masur conducts the New York Philharmonic in particularly inspired fashion. A difference of fifteen years separates the two recordings. In the time between, she married, had children, and then was widowed at a very young age. When Mutter returned to her instrument, she would bring a greater strength, emotional depth and insight to her playing, lending a maturity and assuredness to her... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some great music
Disadvantages: Compilations!

...Cave is off Mull and Iona in Scotland and the music was inspired by his visit there, although I'm sure he didn't visit in the midst of a winter storm as it is very beautiful music, and the very famous Piano Concerto No 2 by Rachmaninov (yep, him again and I can't play this one very well either!) You will know this, as the music was practically lifted note for note to create the song 'All by Myself' which opened Bridget Jones diary. The complete list for this one is: 1. Bruch Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor, 3rd Movement 2. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No 23 2nd Movement 3. Tchaikovsky: Rose Adagio ( The Sleeping Beauty) 4. Mendelssohn: Fingals Cave Hebrides Overture. 5. Brahms: Symphony No 3 3rd movement 6. Tchaikovsky: Dance of the Reed Flutes (The Nutcraker) - Everyones a fruit and nutcase Arrrghh, 7. Elgar: Cello concerto 1st and 2nd... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A work that changed the way we look at symphonies
Disadvantages: none whatsoever

...flat major into foreign tonalities from the very beginning already sets uneasiness to the symphony. The music also features many violent off-beats, strange harmonic twists, passages of such turbulance never heard before in orchestral music and other peculiarities that caused alienation with the people adjusted to thinking music as a pleasant pastime, not as a deeply personal utterance. As Brahms said: "Writing symphonies was no longer playful." I. Allegro con brio The symphony begins with two forceful E flat major chords (forte) that instantly set the tone of the music. The cellos then launch into the main theme, that in actuality is nothing more than an E flat chord tipped on its side and turned into a melody. Incidentally this theme bears incredible resemblance to the overture of Mozart's youthful singspiel Bastien et Bastienne. (This... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful