Advantages: Wonderful, lyrical music
Disadvantages: if you're not romantic at heart!

...My enthusiasm for Glazunov has been shared with you before, but this is the one I’ve been waiting for. The second concerto is wonderful. Brahms’ 2nd and Chopin’s 2nd seen through the eyes of a Russian Romantic – what more could you want! This music is utterly charming, tuneful and unpretentious – the latter an unusual trait in a concerto – and will improve any day or night, no matter how you feel. The 1st is the longer and well worth hearing, and there is a compilation set of variations from a number of Russian contemporaries that, if not up to the standard of the Diabelli, is none the worse for that. There are very few alternatives for this music and now there is no reason to deny yourself the pleasures that are to be found; you will not be disappointed.... Read review

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Advantages: Two outstanding peices of chamber music for an unusual combination of instruments
Disadvantages: On the surface quite contrasting works, listener must be openminded

...The work of Ligeti has been at the forefront of Western avant-garde since his escape from the oppressive communist regime of Hungary in 1956, and he is widely appreciated as one of the most outstanding contemporary composers. The Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano because it was born out of a three-year period of illness and writer's block after the completion of Le Grand Macabre in which time he laboured over a piano concerto but completed only two short harpsichord pieces (Continuum and Hungarian Rock), yet the result in 1982 was the Trio, one of the finest and most complex pieces written so far. His career up to this point had included such sucesses as his Requiem, Atmosphères and the soundtrack for Stanley Kubrick's film 2001. Tiring of his own cluster-textural techniques and the avant-garde, Ligeti refreshed his compositional... Read review

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Advantages: One of the most Romantic concertos around, full of beautiful melodies and passion
Disadvantages: over-recorded

...INTRODUCTION Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was one of the most promising composers emerging from Russia after Tchaikovsky. His early works included the youthfully energetic Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op.1, an orchestral fantasia The Rock, the opera Aleko, several songs, piano pieces (including the famous Prelude in C sharp minor, a work that would plague Rachmaninov with its popularity throughout his life) and the First Symphony in D minor, Op.13. Rachmaninov had high hopes for the latter; it was his magnum opus up until that time. However the symphony proved to be the biggest disappointment of his career, causing a tremendous crisis in his creative life. All the critics jumped on the work, most notably César Cui who compared it with the Seven Plagues of Egypt and condemned the work as modernist trash. The effect on the sensitive... Read review

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Advantages: Mutter's eloquence and sensitivity in older recording are enhanced here.
Disadvantages: None at all!

...-Hungarian violin prodigy to modify the piece as necessary. (Brahms himself did not play the violin). Joaquim did so, and the piece finally premiered on January 1, 1879--to a confused and rather hostile reception (not unlike what would later greet the Tchaikovsky violin concerto). Pianist Hans von Bulow described it as a concerto not ‘for the violin’, but ‘against it’! Brahms tweaked it further until the piece finally saw publication months after its premiere. With such shaky beginnings, it might have been hard to imagine the work becoming one of the most beloved in the violin repertoire today. To be quite frank, the concerto did almost nothing for me at first. None of the musical themes appealed to me, buried as they were in the work’s complexity. It was hard to follow the melodic line, which was obscured by frequent shifts in rhythm and tempo. In fact... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Poor interpretation, sound only adequate

...I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of this new disc from the Russian virtuoso Arcadi Volodos (UK release date October 2nd 2000). Sadly I was disappointed. The recording of Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano concerto is live and although the sound is perfectly adequate, it lacks the crispness and immediacy of a studio recording. Volodos is technically outstanding, but I feel that he's just going through the motions here, playing the notes with very little thought about what's behind them. It makes for a flat, emotionless and dull performance. The concerto is coupled with some of Rachmaninov's shorter solo piano pieces, which are better, but still not outstanding. If you're a huge fan of Volodos, you might want to buy this to add to your collection. If you want to hear a decent recording of Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto... Read review

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Advantages: A little known gem of a piece, performed brilliantly
Disadvantages: None

...Henry Litolff is by no means a well known composer, which is a great shame as these two piano concertos from the Romantic era are definitely worth adding to any collection. If, like me, you enjoy listening to virtuosic piano skills then you will not be disappointed. Peter Donohoe puts on a polished performance, effortlessly racing up and down the piano to make this the best recording available. The Scherzo of the No. 4 is the best known movement and is the most virtuosic. If you enjoy piano concertos by Rachmaninov and Beethoven, give this a try.... Read review

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Advantages: Great tunes
Disadvantages: Recorded quality and overall blandness

...are the best on the CD and these do not suffer from the harshness of the other instruments. The popularity of the album spawned a completely new work in 1993, The Piano Concerto. This Concerto is in four linked movements based on the themes of the film. There are several recordings to be had of the Concerto, including one conducted by the composer himself. As opposed to the soundtrack, this Concerto is much better and pleasing, as it offers all the main music and keeps the material more unified. Music from the film has also been included on many subsequent Michael Nyman recordings and the main tune has become a popular piece among pianists. This has some very nice tunes; it is very popular; it has melodic appeal; it is easier to listen to than to some other of Michael Nyman compositions. If you get it cheap, it's worth the purchase, but at full... Read review

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Advantages: Some great music
Disadvantages: Compilations!

...Cave is off Mull and Iona in Scotland and the music was inspired by his visit there, although I'm sure he didn't visit in the midst of a winter storm as it is very beautiful music, and the very famous Piano Concerto No 2 by Rachmaninov (yep, him again and I can't play this one very well either!) You will know this, as the music was practically lifted note for note to create the song 'All by Myself' which opened Bridget Jones diary. The complete list for this one is: 1. Bruch Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor, 3rd Movement 2. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No 23 2nd Movement 3. Tchaikovsky: Rose Adagio ( The Sleeping Beauty) 4. Mendelssohn: Fingals Cave Hebrides Overture. 5. Brahms: Symphony No 3 3rd movement 6. Tchaikovsky: Dance of the Reed Flutes (The Nutcraker) - Everyones a fruit and nutcase Arrrghh, 7. Elgar: Cello concerto 1st and 2nd... Read review

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Advantages: Shows joyful side of tragic Du Pré; invaluable performances; entertaining spots.
Disadvantages: Too short, unfocused, worshipful; expensive for 1 hour film.

...and performers included in the film: Daniel Barenboim Sir John Barbirolli Zubin Mehta Itzhak Perlman William Pleeth Pinchas Zuckerman New Philharmonia Orchestra Excerpts from: Brahms' Sonata No. 2 in F, Op. 99 Offenbach's Duos for two 'cellos Beethoven's Sonata No. 3 in A, Op. 69 Schubert's Piano Quintet in A, D. 667 'The Trout' Beethoven's Piano Trio No. 5 in D, Op. 70 No. 1 'The Ghost' Elgar's 'cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion.
Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.

...If I was ever asked to select my "desert island discs", top of my list would be Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. (I wonder if there's a category in the ciao café?. . . ) The six Brandenburg concertos, each with their distinct quality and sound requiring a different combination of instruments, are not only a delight to listen to but exemplify the intellectual musical genius of their composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. All six are composed in major keys creating and maintaining a cheerful, vivacious collection. The modulations of key demanded by the baroque conventions are skilfully completed and Bach's predilection for numbers and ornate touches are evident. I could say more but this isn't a musical analysis . . . I am not alone in my high estimation, The Brandenburg concertos are now probably the best loved and most frequently performed works... Read review

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