Szymanowski: King Roger; Symphony No 4

Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments
Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.

...The 9 symphonies by Ludwig Van Beethoven. (1770 - 1827) Performed by The London Classical Players. Conducted by Sir Roger Norrington. With the Schutz choir of London. Not everybody likes classical music. Even those who do, do not all like the same things. This boxed set of CD's if different from previous recordings. Firstly, it is played on period instruments. This is not to everybody’s taste. These instruments are not like today’s instruments. For instance, the violin has a cleaner but more plaintive tone. The woodwinds each has a colour and clarity of tone that blends to a harmonious whole. The timpani, those smaller drums, are hit with hard sticks more reminiscent of military drum sounds. The horn section has a different feel to it. Considering the lapse of some 184 years, it would be strange if the sounds produced were... Read review

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Advantages: What can I say - an assortment of great songs
Disadvantages: None

...of a fun-song, but is typically Roger Taylor – fresh and new, and instantly catchy. Then we have ‘Princes of the Universe,’ which is one of my favourites of all time. This is Queen at their best… “…Here we are, born to be kings, we’re the princes of the Universe…” The album concludes with ‘Forever,’ an instrumental of ‘Who want to Live Forever’ which was not on the original vinyl and a rendition of ‘One Vision.’ Full track listing… One Vision (Queen) 5:08 A Kind of Magic (Taylor) - 4:23 One Year of Love (Deacon) - 4:26 Pain Is So Close to Pleasure (Deacon/Mercury) - 4:19 Friends Will Be Friends (Deacon/Mercury) - 4:07 Who Wants to Live Forever (May) - 5:13 Gimme the Prize (May) - 4:32 Don't Lose Your Head (Taylor) - 4:35 Princes of the Universe (Mercury) - 3:30 Forever - 3:20 One Vision - (Queen) 6:23 The band… Freddie Mercury – Vocals... Read review

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

..., therefore lessening the emotional impact of the whole. Indeed, when taken at an emotional viewpoint the fastness of the tempo makes the music a little hard to get oriented with and particularly the final breaking down of the march music doesn't really convince in its tragic implications. The Scherzo and Finale on the other hand benefit much from the fast speeds like the first movement did, with the former being more energetic than usual as is befitting and the latter brings out a great culmination that ends with two sharp E flat chords, echoing the opening of the first movement. Overall its not a bad performance but at points it can require some getting used to. Symphony No.4 in B flat major, Op.60 The poetic Fourth Symphony receives a quite decent performance from Norrington with the fast movements coming off sprightly and enjoyably... Read review

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