Live from the BBC - Alfred Brendel

Advantages: Classic Brendel, good sound
Disadvantages: Classic Brendel

...does with those of Beethoven or of some of the other composers Brendel has studied over the years. Nevertheless, Brendel must still be considered one of the great living pianists, and by many, one of its greastest living interpreters of Mozart and here he turns in classic performances, ones which are constantly enriched by the great man's wisdom and deep sensibility. Brendel is often called an "intellectual" pianist or "the thinking man's virtuoso" and on this disk, we can find justification for these opinions. One feels that every bar, every note has been carefully, maybe over-carefully, studied and pondered at length and so articulation, phrasing and a sense of an overarching feeling of musical structure are all, always, present. But one cannot help but feel that Brendel fails to achieve an adequate balance between this intellectual... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Witty lyrics, sparkling music
Disadvantages: None

...years. The Performers: Richard D’Oyly Carte formed the D’Oyly Carte Company in the 1870's. The Company is best known for their performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. From 1993 the Company extended its repertoire to include other composer’s operettas including Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. In this production, Rosalinda is performed by Rosemarie Arthars, Adele by Adey Grummet, Eisentein By David Fieldsend, Alfred by Khosrow Mahsoori, and Orlofsky by Gordon Sandison. The Recording John Oen Williams, well practised in the art of operetta having already conducted Many of Gilbert and Sullivans, directs a sparkling and lively performance. The singers are melodious and jolly. The lyrics are sung in English and whilst loosing some of the original feel to the piece are sung with feeling. A pretty good performance in all. For all you... Read review

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Advantages: Lyrical genius.
Disadvantages: Mothersuing.

...'m not holding my breath on that one. But there is no doubt in my mind that Eminem has a way with words which comfortably exceeds that of Hannibal author Thomas Harris and his ilk. Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17th, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He grew up without knowing his father, living in one trailer park after another and being shunted from school to school. Always an outsider, he was victimized by bullies. Once he was knocked unconscious and fell into a coma for five days. It is claimed that this was the trigger for his subsequent anti-social behaviour. The only constant figure in his childhood, apart from his mother, was her brother Ronnie, and he killed himself when they were both 19. Surely his disaffection towards the world is an inevitable consequence of these experiences. Now I risk being called a lily... Read review

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