Ravel; Faure: String Quartets

Advantages: Authentic recording, a direct link to the composer of this beautiful music, very expressive and stylish.
Disadvantages: A different style with some small technical discrepences, some might prefer a more modern recording.

...The contributions of Maurice Ravel to the 20th century piano repertory are a tender and expressive gift, standing out as some of the best examples of French Impressionist solo pieces from that time along with works by his contemporaries Debussy and Fauré. Since his early death in 1930, many performers have turned to his pupils - Vlado Perlemuter, and Marguerite Long expecting that they, with all their close contact with him, would be the most direct link to the man himself. They strongly emphasise the idea of strictness, lack of any kind of exaggeration, expression or imitation of past traditions, as though the piece is like an object to be guarded. However "Masters of the Piano Roil..." is primary evidence that flatly contradicts what they say - there are over 250 recordings of Ravel playing his own work (some of the best featured... Read review

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Advantages: Sublime
Disadvantages: Ends too soon!

...popular today. Wonderful stuff! Elgar's Chanson de Matin is next, showing Elgar in a slightly lighter mood. By the way, did you know that Elgar was a dedicated Wolves fan? Apparently he used to cycle to the home games at Molineux Park, Wolverhampton and it is said that he wrote a little song (well, more of a chant set to music, really) for his fellow Wolves fans? Then it is back to Faure for a piece of music that still sends shivers up and down my spine, his Pavane. Glorious music. Worth buying this CD for that one piece, alone. Then it is another English composer, Delius, with On Hearing the First Cuckoo of Spring. This is a truly charming piece and really does evoke a warm spring morning and hearing the first Cuckoo of spring. This is not a piece that I have heard performed as often as I feel it should be. For people who only know Ravel... Read review

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Advantages: Everything you could ever want from a classical CD
Disadvantages: none

...I have purchased and listened to many types of music and as a classical pianist always like to explore new CD's. This album has so many classics on it and is delightful to listen to. Did you know that opening music in 2001 - A Space Odyssey was from Also Sprach Zarathustra by Strauss or that the background music in the British Airways TV commercial was the Flower Duet from the opera Lakme? This compilation album is perfect whether you are a lover of classical music or just interested to find out what it is all about. The track listing shows what can be expected on this wonderful CD. 1. Canon and Gigue in D Composed by Johann Pachelbel 2. 12 Concertos for Violin and Strings Composed by Antonio Vivaldi 3. Adagio in G minor Composed by Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni 4. Symphony No. 6, 'Pastoral' in F Composed by Ludwig van... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful