Soundbite 60 Reviews

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

Brahms Piano Concertos/Stephen Kovacevich & Colin Davis
These Philips originals come up very well to re-present Stephen Kovacevich’s searching and muscular performances of the concertos – intensely and dedicatedly conducted by Colin Davis. The slow movement of...
July 1, 2010
Claudio Abbado Conducts Mendelssohn
One of Claudio Abbado’s first recordings: a major talent discovered in the company of an orchestra he would do great things with. This Mendelssohn coupling, as per Decca’s SXL LP,...
March 2, 2008
Radu Lupu Plays Mozart
Weighty and suave, the English Chamber Orchestra cues delightfully Radu Lupu’s first entry in the ‘Elvira Madigan’ concerto (K467). Lupu’s playing is wonderfully refined, shapely, effortlessly touched and eloquent. This...
March 1, 2008
Alfred Cortot Encores
Popular repertoire from a pianist of the past: Cortot’s individual manner – both showman and searcher – is redolent of a thankfully-preserved-on-recordings era and which points up what can be...
October 1, 2007
Barbirolli Conducts British Music
Typically eloquent and considered Barbirolli performances distinguished by a vivid communicative glow, these Romantic and illustrative pieces have many picturesque qualities that are offset by a depth of humanity and...
September 5, 2007
Solti Conducts Wagner
Solti leads powerhouse performances – a truly turbulent account of “The Flying Dutchman” overture – interlaced with logic, rigorous preparation and no small measure of sensitivity – this chamber performance...
September 4, 2007
Offenbach Operettas
Delightfully frothy music, irrepressibly witty and charming, and with a melodic contour that always reaches out to the listener. These excerpts are well-chosen, all the hits are here, whether seductively...
August 15, 2007
Mozart Overtures
Overtures to 12 Mozart operas – showing his range – played with affection and shape in recorded sound that is vivid and tangible. Menuhin’s conducting is ‘old-school’ – full-toned and...
August 12, 2007
Brahms’s Serenades
These are performances of depth and charm. Masur characterises each movement in the First Serenade with obvious affection, the weight of the substantial Adagio nicely offset by a feather-light touch...
August 11, 2007
Bruckner 2 & Weber
This is fine Bruckner, with the VPO in top form and Stein striking just the right balance between narrative flow and architectonics. Such is the clarity and rhythmic incisiveness Stein...
August 10, 2007
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