Bruckner: Symphony No. 2

Advantages: A most powerful and unique work in the annals of music
Disadvantages: Will not appeal to the cutesy-cutesy people

...his post as director of the Vienna Opera. However, taken at face value, Alma is not a very reliable historian. Her writings were often very exaggerated and she had a tendency to romanticise Mahler's life, twisting facts and finding other meanings in his life and works. In many ways the Sixth Symphony is an extension of the Fifth Symphony in its aesthetic and philosophical ideas, also continuing his trilogy of strictly instrumental symphonies the Fifth was the first of (Symphonies 2-4 all had human voices in one form or another and even the First Symphony was based on his own song melodies). Even the Kindertodtenlieder are not intended to be bleak, but are simply songs with poignant lyrics, written by Friedrich Rückert after the death of his own two children, and the final song is actually a love song for Alma. Of all the Mahler symphonies... Read review

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Advantages: Beatuful redentions of highly celebrated works
Disadvantages: Would be nicer with a broader selcetion on disc

...Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a household name, even among non-classical music lovers - he is - for many - the definition of music. This CD houses 2 works by the genius - Symphony No.40 in G minor and Symphony No.41 - Jupiter. Mozart wrote No.40 after the death of his infant daughter - this is potrayed immediatly through the minor key in which the piece begins in. It later modulates to a major key which denotes his hopefulness of moving on and closing the bereavement door. The piece culminates in a repetition and develoment of the 1st section to reiterate his pain and sorrow. Symphony No. 41 was completed just 1month after no.40, in the summer of 1788. It is nicknamed ' The Jupiter Symphony' due to its power and percieved size, particularly in the finale, where a memorable theme is heard alongside with others that have featured earlier... Read review

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

...EMI as follows:- CD 1 66’06" Symphony No 1 Symphony No 6 "The Pastoral" CD 2 58’40" Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8 CD 3 48’43" Overture: Creatures of Prometheus Symphony No 3 "Erocia" CD 4 64’36" Symphony No 4 Symphony No 5 CD 5 52’50" Overture; "Coriolan ", Overture: "Egmont", Symphony No 7 CD 6 62’23" Symphony No 9 "The Choral" This new set from Virgin Classics Catalogue No 5619432 is as follows:- CD 1 Symphony No 1 Symphony No 3 "Eeroica" Creatures of Prometheus CD 2 Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8 Coriolan Overture Egmont Overture CD 3 Symphony No 4 Symphony No 7 CD 4 Symphony No 5 Symphony No 6 "Pastoral" CD 5 Symphony No 9 “The Choral" Amazon price £13.99 This will not be to everybody’s liking though I do believe that it gives a new perspective on some... Read review

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