Sibelius: Symphony 2 & Violin Concerto

Advantages: Excellent recordings on one CD
Disadvantages: Competing with so many other recordings

...These recordings of the Brahms and Sibelius Vioin Concertos are performed by Tasmin Little and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. As you would expect, the quality is excellent. Tasmin has no difficulties with the technical side of the music, giving a first rate performance. There is little I can say about the CD. There are a few recordings of these concertos competing for top place, and this one is certainly in the running. However, it might be worth comparing this to the recordings by Kennedy and Maxime Vengerov before parting with your money, but it is really down to a matter of personal preference.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A definite easy listen
Disadvantages: Maybe too easy

...- Romance Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Elgar - Chanson de matin Beethoven - Pastoral Symphony CD 2 Mozart - 'Elvira Madigan' Piano Concerto JS Bach - Sheep may safely graze JS Bach - Keyboard Concerto No 5 in F minor Handel - Water Music Vivaldi - Concerto for lute and two violins JS Bach - Aria Grieg - Piano Concerto JS Bach - Double Violin Concerto Monteverdi - Beatus vir Chopin - Etude in E 'Tristesse' Elgar - Serenade in E minor Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No 2 Barber - Adagio for String Faure - In paradisum - Schubert - String Quintet Faure - Berceuse x-x-x... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: It is simply one of the finest pieces of music ever written
Disadvantages: How dare you ask of any disadvantges!?!

...this his reputation was upholstered even more with his openly patriotic and pompous music of the "Cockaigne (In London Town) Overture," "In the South (Alassio) Overture", and the first of his five "Pomp and Circumstance Marches", the middle part of the first march becoming somewhat of an unofficial national anthem. He was even knighted in 1904. In this vein the composer continued until 1914 (his two symphonies, Violin Concerto, and numerous choral works being in roughly the same style) when suddenly thunder struck. TONSILS, TO BRINKWELLS AND CREATIVITY The First World War put an end to the militaristic and pompous music of Elgar of the past as inappropriate and he did little composing during the war years, with only a few songs, the rarely performed symphonic prelude "Polonia" and the cantata "The Spirit of England" consisting his largest... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful