Schumann: Complete Piano Works Vol 3

Advantages: Excellent selection and performance of piano works by Frank Bridge
Disadvantages: A few pieces are not very interesting

...Frank Bridge was an early twentieth century English composer. His works are not widely known, but are played increasingly, and more recordings are becoming available. Some of his later works, such as his piano sonata, were influenced by Scriabin. This CD is the second of three, and covers a wide range of styles, but mostly in his earlier style. Most of the pieces on this CD are fairly easy to listen to, and can be enjoyed by the majority of classical music lovers. The opening piece, Etude Rhapsodique, is an etude appropriately played by Jacobs, in the grand manner (of Liszt and other nineteenth century virtuosi), full of late nineteenth century panache, but with Bridge's own distinctive voice. The second piece, Berceuse, is played beautifully, a gentle piece as the name would suggest (a lullaby) but again with Bridge's own... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beautifully hypnotic music from the master of floating ambient piano
Disadvantages: It is a very short CD indeed

...beautiful when his passion and his artistry and his playing are at their most taut, most otherworldly, most ambient, most minimal as it evokes the most lyrical moments from him. Despite the brevity of the CD and of the pieces in general, Music for 3 Pianos contains what is possibly some of Budd's most beautiful and beguiling work. Pulse Pause Repeat is a glorious introduction, sucking us in with staccato drifts of piano, in a style slightly out of the ordinary for Budd, as it is more structured than usual. Nevertheless, because of its difference it attracts the attention a little more than usual for Budd and he then slides us further into the music on La Muchacha De Los Suenos Dorados that utilises more clearly Budd sounds. A simple, haunting refrain stabilises the pieces, creating a sense of continuity whilst elegant occasional keystrokes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Blu-Ray, 60 Gb Hard Drive
Disadvantages: Lack of games released. Price of £425

.... With the heat problem in check, I'm rather stunned at how stable and glitch-free the PS3 functions... personally, I view the xbox 360 as a toy, the so-called "Elite" version as being a waste since it doesn't have built-in HD-DVD and I see the Playstation 3 as being a true work of art, it's beautiful.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful