Great Classical Favourites - 101 Strings Orchestra

Advantages: A decent collection of varied music
Disadvantages: Several 'sections' of music

...by R. Strauss to the closing The Lamb by Tavener you feel as though you are not just listening to music, but partaking in a journey to explore your senses. This is some fine classical music in an innovative fashion, emphasising not only the purely relaxing form of Classical Music as Classic FM is often wont to do, but also the stirring sensations it can generate. As to be expected there are some of the old 'spine-tingling' favourites here including the Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber and the Nimrod from the Enigma Variations by Elgar but these are well combined with some less recognised music such as Philip Glass' Facades and McCartney's Celebration, which both serve excellently to explore reaches of the human psyche often left untouched by other supposed 'emotional' classical compilations. Luckily, Fur Elise has not been touched... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful music that weaves its way into ones soul
Disadvantages: I want more - 50 minutes is not enough!

...When Michael Nyman is constrained by moviemakers' demands he produces his most melodic, and commercial, work. His wilder excesses are tamed and his penchant for irritatingly and endlessly repeating a few notes until the listener screams for release is over-ruled. 'The Claim' soundtrack is a new classic and offers a prime example of Nyman's flowing and uplifting themes winding and twisting together. Orchestra led, with violins mostly to the foreground carrying the melody while the piano keeps the beat, occasionally surfacing with a theme to be picked up later. Thirty-seven musicians are listed in this incarnation of The Michael Nyman Orchestra, twenty-eight in the string section alone. The resulting multitude of gives the album a particular richness of texture. Bright clear brass soars over the strings on some tracks. On others oboe... Read review

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Advantages: Brilliant rock classical sounds, great songs
Disadvantages: None

...Electric Light Orchestra were one of THE bands of the 1970s. Formed by Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne from the ashes of The Move, they fused the sounds of the rock band with elements of the classics. Things did not go according to plan, at least in Wood’s mind and after two albums he went his own way (with Wizard and others). This left Lynne to explore and develop this orchestral rock fusion to its peak. At the time of this album ELO were in their fully established line up of Jeff Lynne (Lead guitar and vocals), Kelly Groucutt (Bass and vocals), Richard Tandy (Keyboards), Bev Bevan (Drums), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello), Melvyn Gale (cello). I had the great fortune of seeing them at Newcastle City Hall during their UK tour in the late 1970s. This review is primarily of the CD release although I did own the album originally... Read review

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