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Chopin: Etudes Opp. 10, 25 - Perahia      (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
  May 12, 2007

Funny - there seeems to be a bit of controversy over this disc. Firstly there should be no controversy over the music! 24 etudes covering every technical challenge - yet the music ranges from pure poetry to titanic outbursts. When we finally reach the last three etudes of opus 25 Chopin just opens ... more
Shilkret: Trombone Concerto etc. - Lindberg/Neschling        (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
  June 3, 2006

A real disc of two halves! I had no idea about any of these pieces but, seeing it was BIS, I thought I'd try it. The first piece is the Shilkret concerto. This was premiered in 1945 and is called, along with Rhapsody in Blue, the first "crossover concerto". It is a swooning, Hollywood type piece, ... more
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 - Vänskä        (5 of 6 found this review helpful)
  June 2, 2006

Looking at the photo of the Minnesota Orchestra it looks like there are about 80 musicians - in between a smaller period ensemble and the full Vienna or Berlin orchestras. That is what these excellent performances sound like - I heard more detail than ever before. It begs the question - do we need ... more
Weingartner: Symphony No. 2 - Letonja        (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
  April 30, 2006

I bought this on Raffells' recommendation and I'm glad! As the other reviewers have mentioned there are a lot of reminders of other composers' works so I'll put my hat in the ring and give a few. 1st. movement - could be Dvorak's 6 1/2 symphony 2nd. movement - starts off sounding like Bruckner - I ... more
Chopin: Ballades & Scherzos - Rubinstein        (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
  April 29, 2006

Starting with Ballade no.1 I thought Perahia was even more dramatic and was thinking well Rubenstein was born in 1887 so was over 70 when he made these recordings. Well straight on to number 2 and he was even more fiery than Perahia in the tempestuous outer sections! Everyone will have favourite ... more

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