Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 33, 35, 36 and 38

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... Read review

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Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven
Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles

...INTRODUCTION Beethoven's nine symphonies cover one of the major cornerstones of symphonic literature along with the likes of Haydn, Brahms and Sibelius. Beethoven was born in turbulent times when the common people's dissatisfaction toward the ruling monarchs in Europe was reaching new heights which finally culminated in the French Revolution in 1789. Against this came Beethoven, who was born into a family of musicians in Bonn in 1770. His father wanted to coin in on the child prodigy market created by Mozart whose father had exploited his genius in a similar way. But Beethoven was no Mozart. He wasn't born a child progidy and his performing skills were nowhere near as natural as they were with Mozart. Still he made rapid progress as a piano virtuoso and an amateur composer. He was even supposed to take some lessons with Mozart in Wien... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: nothing

...(Messiah) 4:00 2 Gregorio Allegri: Miserere mei, Deus 5:44 3 John Jenkins: Agnus Dei 3:36 4 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Lacrimosa (Requiem K626) 2:56 5 Christoph Willibald Gluck: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice) 3:28 6 Charles Gounod: Ave Maria 2:59 7 Leo Delibes: Dome epais (Lakme (1883)) 3:27 8 Georges Bizet: Au fond du temple saint (Les Pêcheurs de perles) 5:22 9 Giuseppe Verdi: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) (Nabucco (1853)) 5:26 10 Vincenzo Bellini: Casta diva (Norma (1831)) 5:33 11 Gioacchino Rossini: Largo al factotum (Il Barbiere di Siviglia (1816)) 4:18 12 Giacomo Puccini: Che gelida manina (Bohème (highlights)) 4:50 13 Giacomo Puccini: Vissi d'arte (Tosca) 3:26 14 Giacomo Puccini: Nessun dorma (Turandot) 4:10 15 Giacomo Puccini: O mio babbino... Read review

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