The Busch Quartet - Complete Schubert Recordings

Advantages: Haunting, passionate music to get lost in.
Disadvantages: It's classical and this puts people off before they even try it.

.... Although Schubert left no indication of his inspiration for this piece it is known that he had around the time of composing it played the Viola in Beethoven’s string quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131 (1826) of which Wagner has commented, “a soul in distress”, followed by pleasant visions, a new yearning for life, beauty, gentleness, yearning, love, whims, humour, hilarity” and then “transition to resignation and painful renunciation” – one man’s reaction and sure proof of the music’s ability to evoke both strong emotion and powerful imagery.” This music sent Schubert “into such transports of delight and enthusiasm that all feared for him”. Beethoven had died the previous year (1827) and Schubert had not only visited him shortly before his death but was also a torchbearer at his funeral. I am no authority on music, I can... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Music to take you beyond this world
Disadvantages: Needs a bit of patience

...understand them: we just need to respond to the sound-world he creates. The only technical term I shall use is the word Movement. Many musical works are divided into separate, contrasting sections separated by silences. Each section is called a movement. There, that didn’t hurt, did it? (Sorry, I’m being patronising, aren’t I?) The Quintet was written only a few months before Schubert died and it seems clear as the music progresses that he knew he was close to death. Of all his works, this one goes through every imaginable emotion and anyone who listens regularly to Desert Island Discs (BBC Radio 4, every Sunday and Friday morning), in which well known guests choose the eight records they could least live without, will have heard it. The work has been chosen by more guests on the programme than any other piece of any type, pop... Read review

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Advantages: Unparalleled playing, Unbelievably good bargain for 6 CDs!
Disadvantages: Um, paper sleeves? No, seriously, it's great

...This box set comprises recordings from 1985-89, when Horowitz was 81 years old! In 1986 Horowitz returned to Russia after 60 years away to give his monumental Moscow recital of which the live recording is included in this set. I personally find this performance of Liszt's Sonetto 104 del Petrarca to be the finest ever recorded. Alongside this is Scarlatti, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Schumann, Chopin, Moszkowski, and Schubert. Accompanying this recital is 5 other discs of outstandingly unique playing. As he got older, Horowitz's playing became a sort of caricature of itself in the nicest possible way. By this I mean, his dynamics became more extreme, he became more expressive than ever, and his sense of style was heightened to new levels. Horowitz's Mozart playing has been criticized for being too free and not in Mozart... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful