Advantages: The rousing climax Disadvantages: It classical so is not appreciated by the masses
I remember the first time I heard Beethoven's 7th Symphony. It was awful. Didn't enjoy it all. Then through the perseverence of a friend, I was helped to appreciate the many aspects of this intricate piece of music. The different tunes all adding to the greater sum, the sense of something building up and how Beethoven has the incredible ability to go from the bottom of the scale to the very top in an instance. I have also found that is it imperative ...
Advantages: The best and most famous symphonies ever Disadvantages: None
Beethoven's nine symphonies are a complete musical universe of their own. Some of them have naturally impinged on public consciousness more than others. The opening bars of the 5th vied for years with the finale to Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" as probably the most famous classical piece ever until the recent vogue for Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", while the 6th ("Pastoral") is so full of light and shade, so many little twists of unforgettable melody, ... ...part of the 9th ("Choral") has lived on in various reincarnations. Just listen to the Seekers' "Emerald City" (1967) and Rainbow's "Difficult To Cure" (1981), to take but two examples.
As a personal opinion, I find the 6th the most enjoyable to listen to right through; I was partly brought up on it as a child, and for me it has never lost its magic. But as regards single movements, nothing can compare with the Scherzo Allegro Vivace from the 3rd, ...
Advantages: Some great music Disadvantages: Compilations!
...on? I don't think Classic FMs listeners are quite ready for that yet. The track list for the Opera is:
1. Delibes: Flower Duet (Lakmé) 2. Rossini: Largo al Factotum (Barber of Seville) 3. Puccini: Nessun Dorma (Turandot) 4. Dvorak: Song to the Moon (Rusalka)
5. Bizet: Au Fond du Temple Saint (The Pearl Fishers)
6. Bellini: Casta Diva (Norma)
7. Puccini: Che Gelida Manina (La Boheme)
8. Mascagni: Easter Hymn (Cavalleria Rusticana)
9. Bizet: ... ...(Madame Butterfly)
12. Verdi: Celeste Aidi (Aidi)
13. Mozart: La ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni)
14. Verdi: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco)
15. Puccini: O mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi)
The Opera CD is probably my least listened to of the three, not because I dislike Opera, to the contrary I love it, but after all I have said about background music I tend to use the CD's when we have people round and Opera is not everyone's cup of ...
Advantages: An excellent introduction to Classical Music Disadvantages: None
This is a companion set to Naxos' "The A~Z of Opera" (previously reviewed.. It follows the same format and is an ideal compilation for people who are new to classical music as well as classical music buffs. It contains a double CD with two and a half hours of classical music (as you would expect) and a 562 page book (not quite as thick as the Opera one) compiled and written again by Keith Anderson.
So what's in the pack?
~~ The Book
This contains ... ...same size as a CD and fairly thick. The text is concise and clear and informative, with portraits of composers throughout. After the index you get 450 pages of concise histories of composers, with recommendations of recordings from the Naxos catalogue. It is arranged in alphabetical order, and starts with Adolphe Adam and is completed by Bernd Alois Zimmerman. As well as details about the composer there are sections on the different types of music ...
Advantages: A great diversity of famous works Disadvantages: Not everything is perfect
I am a huge fan of classical music, with a collection soon breaking the 700 marker. But where did it all begin? Well right here. When I got my first CD player, I played my parents CDs until making my first CD purchase. I stumbled along a 2-CD collection called "Simply the Best classical Anthems." Honestly, I had not the slightest clue about what music al the names on the back contained. But there were so many interesting pieces there so that I immediately ... ...buy. Unlike many other collections, this one features many top flight recordings of some of the most popular classical music. Some of them are still holding their own in the mass of my collection. It was also extremely useful for me in expanding my collection.
TRACK LISTING AS FOLLOWS:
CD 1
VERDI: Dies Irae from Requiem
ORFF: O Fortuna from Carmina Burana
HOLST: Mars from The Planets, Op.32
WAGNER: The Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre
...
Package, to drive, nippy, economical, relaible (*)
