Soundbite 60

Riccardo Muti conducts Schumann’s Four Symphonies

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Schumann
The Four Symphonies

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: October 2011
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802081 (2 CDs)
Duration: 2 hours 17 minutes

Robert Schumann’s four wonderful symphonies (the Fourth played in the composer’s revision) have long been staples of the gramophone, if not – sadly – the concert hall. Riccardo Muti’s second traversal finds the Vienna Philharmonic lissom and blossoming, responding generously to Muti’s picturesque and glowing detailing, at-one with Schumann’s delicious descriptions and private passions. The sound is ideally warm, clear and natural.

Newton Classics

Antal Dorati conducts Brahms’s Four Symphonies

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

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

Brahms
The Four Symphonies

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: October 2011
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802079 (2 CDs)
Duration: 2 hours 34 minutes

Vibrant performances with plenty of thrills (no spills!) played with passion. Phrases soar. This is brawny Brahms, unsentimental, clear-sighted. Antal Dorati’s flexible conducting encourages soulful song and athletic allegros. The sound, unfailingly vivid and immediate, can be edgy, but in time-honoured Mercury Living Stereo fashion there is nothing dull. These symphonies aren’t museum-pieces but alive, breathing works of musical art.

Newton Classics

Coppélia & Sylvia/Dorati & Fistoulari

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Delibes
Coppélia – Ballet in three acts
Sylvia – Ballet in three acts

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: October 2011
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802080 (3 CDs)
Duration: 2 hours 53 minutes

Masterpieces both! Two scintillating scores (Paris, 1870/1876) brimful of hits, paraded here with panache and style – insouciant, exhilarating, always magnetic. Whether conducted by Dorati or Fistoulari, both had the measure of Delibes’s choreography-in-music, his fund of tunes and colourful brilliance. Their orchestras play with relish. Knockout sound, too, from the Mercury Living Stereo stable with thrilling presence and tangible detailing.

Newton Classics

Rossini’s String Sonatas/I Musici

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Rossini
The Six String Sonatas

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: February 2011
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802041 (2 CDs)
Duration: 83 minutes [annotation advises 81]

These endearing pieces are given a frolicsome outing by I Musici (The Musicians). Rossini’s String Sonatas enjoy long-breathed melodies and witty ditties; and some movements are akin to operatic arias. Rossini could be a cheeky chappy, his writing full of surprises, not least his use of the double bass. This is music to enjoy. Richard Osborne’s booklet note adds value.

Newton Classics

Schubert: The Ten Symphonies/Neville Marriner

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Schubert
Symphony No.1 in D, D82
Symphony No.2 in B flat, D125
Symphony No.3 in D, D200
Symphony No.4 in C minor, D417 (Tragic)
Symphony No.5 in B flat, D485
Symphony No.6 in C, D589
Symphony No.8 in B minor, D759 (Unfinished) [Scherzo comp. & orch. Brian Newbould; finale taken from Schubert’s music for Rosamunde]
Symphony No.9 in C, D944 (Great)
Schubert, realised Newbould
Symphony No.7 in E minor/major, D729
Symphony No.10 in D, D936a
Schubert, comp. & orch. Newbould
Symphonic Fragments in D, D615 & 708a

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: December 2010
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802033 (6 CDs)
Duration: 6 hours 6 minutes

Collected here are the seven-and-a-half symphonies we know Schubert composed plus the two-and-a-half that Brian Newbould has realised from sketches (the two halves now combine to finish the ‘Unfinished’) plus other Newbould-fulfilments of Fragments. Thus this comprehensive set of Schubert’s symphonism, enjoying Marriner’s crisp and stylish conducting, with well-judged-articulate tempos and ‘modern’-playing application, is recommendable for extending our Schubertian appreciation.

Newton Classics

Russian Overtures & Orchestral Works/Mikhail Pletnev

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Borodin
Prince Igor – Overture
Glazunov
Overture solennelle, Op.73
Glinka
Ruslan and Ludmilla – Overture
Kabalevsky
Colas Breugnon – Overture
Liadov
Baba Yaga, Op.56; The Enchanted Lake, Op.62; Kikimora, Op.63
Mussorgsky
Khovanshchina – Prelude [orch. Rimsky-Korsakov]
Prokofiev
Semyon Kotko – Suite: Introduction
Rimsky-Korsakov
The Golden Cockerel – Suite; The Tsar’s Bride – Overture
Shostakovich
Festive Overture, Op.96
Tchaikovsky
Overture in F
Nikolai Tcherepnin
La Princesse lointaine – Prelude; The Enchanted Kingdom – Prelude

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: December 2010
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802037 (2 CDs)
Duration: 2 hours 9 minutes

Helter-skelter Glinka confirms RNO’s virtuosity and unanimity; personal touches display Pletnev’s individuality. These Russian favourites and rarities find no dud – vivid, evocative music of beauty, fantasy, exhilaration and theatre. Shostakovich’s orchestration of Khovanshchina is preferable to the (here unstated) Rimsky-Korsakov version (such advice contrary to the booklet note though), yet Pletnev convinces; his belief is a hallmark throughout these recordings.

Newton Classics

Tchaikovsky Symphonies 1-6/Igor Markevitch

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Tchaikovsky
Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 (Winter Dreams)
Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.17 (Little Russian)
Symphony No.3 in D, Op.20 (Polish)
Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36
Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64
Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 (Pathétique)

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: December 2010
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802036 (4 CDs)
Duration: 4 hours 17 minutes

These passionate, detailed, superbly played performances still sound great. Markevitch conducts the underestimated first three symphonies with panache and conviction, conjuring thrilling and moving versions of the others. Unnecessarily, timing-wise, Symphony 2 is broken between discs; regrettably, the Byron-inspired Manfred is missing despite Markevitch and the LSO recording it. A separate issue is required to properly complete Tchaikovsky’s symphony cycle.

Newton Classics

Debussy Préludes/Jorge Bolet

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Debussy
Préludes [selections from Books I & II]

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: October 2010
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802026
Duration: 60 minutes

Jorge Bolet chooses sixteen from Debussy’s 24 Préludes, including the first and last, and brings each one alive, running the gamut from hypnotic to brightly edgy – through old-world flexibility Bolet brings-out the fantasy-narrative inherent in the pieces. ‘The Girl with Flaxen Hair’ is a winsome creature, ‘The Engulfed Cathedral’ an underwater leviathan towering to majesty, and ‘Fireworks’ a dazzling light-show.

Newton Classics

Chopin Piano Concertos/Jorge Bolet & Charles Dutoit

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Chopin
Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.11
Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, Op.21
The Four Ballades
Barcarolle, Op.60
Fantasy, Op.49

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: July 2010
CD No: NEWTON CLASSICS 8802008 (2 CDs)
Duration: 2 hours 18 minutes

From Decca’s catalogue, these searchingly-imperious accounts of the solo pieces are leavened with tenderness and flexibility, Jorge Bolet (1914-90) bequeathing us Chopin of high romance and deeply beautiful expression; some very special playing, richly sounded. The concertos are given imposing performances, Charles Dutoit and the Montreal musicians offering vibrant and sensitive support to Bolet’s nicely-matured, grand-mannered display, ornate and authoritative.

Newton Classics

Mozart Piano Concertos/Alicia de Larrocha & Georg Solti

Soundbite 60

Here we write a short précis of a CD or DVD giving you a concise summary in a sixty-word soundbite

Mozart
Piano Concerto No.24 in C minor, K491
Piano Concerto No.25 in C, K503
Piano Concerto No.26 in D, K537 (Coronation)
Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat, K595

Reviewed by: Colin Anderson

Reviewed: July 2010
CD No: DECCA 478 2420 (2 CDs)
Duration: 2 hours 9 minutes

July 2010. K491 and K537 never issued – full explanation as to why in the booklet – both have an enjoyment and spontaneity not always found in the studio. K503 and K595 find Georg Solti leading a vivid, bold and precise orchestral complement to Alicia de Larrocha’s subtle, colourful and dynamic playing. Old-fashioned, time-taken Mozart, expressive, romantic and often exquisite: don’t miss!

Decca Classics