Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony: Refined passion

Advantages: Great passion, beautiful melodies, unrestrained romanticism
Disadvantages: The finale doesn't quite convince in it's purpose

...HAPPINESS, OR TRAGEDY? After the doom-laden confessional that was the Fourth Symphony, Tchaikovsky was finally getting more in peace with himself. His fame began to spread and by 1885 he was already considered a national hero. This time saw the maturation of Tchaikovsky's style from the more blatantly folk-song oriented works and the more youthfully turbulent ideas to a more mainstream and calmer drift. Following the Fourth Symphony came the Violin Concerto, the Second Piano Concerto, the colourful overtures Capriccio Italien (composed during his bright stay at Italy) and 1812 (with the famous cannon-fire finale), the subtle String Serenade, the elegiac Piano Trio, a couple of small operas, and the large scale Manfred Symphony, amid some smaller scale works, all predominately genial in character. In 1888, after getting over his fear...

berlioz 26.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

Birmingham Symphony Hall. We like the arts, we do!

Advantages: It is one of the best concert halls I have seen
Disadvantages: None

...Birmingham's Symphony Hall is a truly amazing edifice. Part of the building was constructed over the very busy railway lines into Birmingham New Street Station, so the design and construction of the building had to take into account the vibrations and noise from the trains passing beneath the building. I have to say that, during all of the performances that I have enjoyed at Symphony Hall, none of them had been even remotely disturbed by even the hint of noise from a passing train. The building is linked to the International Convention Centre and was finished in 1999. It is close to the prestigious Gas Street Basin area and overlooks Broad Street in the entertainment quarter. The design of the building is truly breathtaking. One of the best ways to see the building is by taking the Birmingham Wheel which is adjacent. You can really...

Martinscholes 27.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of Symphony Hall

Mozart Symphonies 40+41

Advantages: Beatuful redentions of highly celebrated works
Disadvantages: Would be nicer with a broader selcetion on disc

...Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a household name, even among non-classical music lovers - he is - for many - the definition of music. This CD houses 2 works by the genius - Symphony No.40 in G minor and Symphony No.41 - Jupiter. Mozart wrote No.40 after the death of his infant daughter - this is potrayed immediatly through the minor key in which the piece begins in. It later modulates to a major key which denotes his hopefulness of moving on and closing the bereavement door. The piece culminates in a repetition and develoment of the 1st section to reiterate his pain and sorrow. Symphony No. 41 was completed just 1month after no.40, in the summer of 1788. It is nicknamed ' The Jupiter Symphony' due to its power and percieved size, particularly in the finale, where a memorable theme is heard alongside with others that have featured...

pdillon91 04.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Mozart: Symphonies

A Symphony of Destruction

Advantages: Perhaps there best album - It truly reflects the style, and talent of the band themselves.
Disadvantages: No real disadvantages.

...I had heard a few songs from this band. They are most noteably known for covering perhaps my favourite band - Metallica. This holds some brilliant covers as well. One, Nothing Else Matters and For Whom The Bell Tolls. It's so hard to choose a favourite - as they are all great. But this album also holds covers from other bands. The title track itself - Inquisition Symphony - is a cover of an amazing Sepultura instrumental, executed greatly by the four celloists. Refuse/Resist is another Sepultura cover - and it may well be the best song on the album. Faith No More's "From Out Of Nowhere" and Pantera's "Domination" are also covered on the album - and if you like the originals you will love these (or vice versa in my case!). Either way - if you are a fan of the metal greats and are in the mood for perhaps trying something a bit...

Daneyol 23.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Inquisition Symphony - Apocalyptica

Heard a sound like a backstreet symphony

Advantages: Awesome vocals
Disadvantages: None

...tone to the album. 'Backstreet Symphony' is definately a great track, really keeps the high standard of work on the album going. The most successful of the album was 'Love Walked In' although not my favourite, I could see its appeal to the public and it is a good song in all fairness. This is a really awesome album, one that I didn't discover until recently. If you're into AC/DC toned down a bit more, you have Thunder. Definately a recommended album....

Lauren007 25.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Backstreet Symphony - Thunder

The Farewell Symphony

Advantages: Important as literature
Disadvantages: Novel format not convincing

...The problem with "novels" that read like biographies, is having the author's real name loom large in the text, while those of other characters have been disguised to "protect their privacy." It's like having a garden hose pipe with a bend in the middle, the narrative flow is blocked because one is in two minds whether the blokes Mr White is clutching to his chest, are the real McCoy, or simply figments of a fertile imagination. Of course, readers who simply want a print extension of White's, the Joy of Gay Sex (my copy had some scintillating pencil drawings) will find all they are looking for in The Farewell Symphony. The sex scenes leave no stone unturned when it comes to descriptive debauchery. As a gay man myself who also once indulged, it brought back many memories. But White's narrative is meant for a wider audience, so...

Willythewriter 07.01.2008 (02.01.2008) · Read review
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Review of The Farewell Symphony - Edmund White

Beethoven's symphonies: the rediscovered frontier

Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven
Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles

...INTRODUCTION Beethoven's nine symphonies cover one of the major cornerstones of symphonic literature along with the likes of Haydn, Brahms and Sibelius. Beethoven was born in turbulent times when the common people's dissatisfaction toward the ruling monarchs in Europe was reaching new heights which finally culminated in the French Revolution in 1789. Against this came Beethoven, who was born into a family of musicians in Bonn in 1770. His father wanted to coin in on the child prodigy market created by Mozart whose father had exploited his genius in a similar way. But Beethoven was no Mozart. He wasn't born a child progidy and his performing skills were nowhere near as natural as they were with Mozart. Still he made rapid progress as a piano virtuoso and an amateur composer. He was even supposed to take some lessons with Mozart in Wien...

berlioz 16.04.2005 · Read review
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Review of Beethoven Symphonies 1-9 (London Classical Players) - Sir Roger Norrington

Eltax Liberty 5 versus Mission 702e

Advantages: fantastic 'big', rich sound. Very good price.
Disadvantages: quite deep, need to be away from wall

...demonstrations of both products (albeit in different shops!), and much to my own astonishment,I opted for the Eltax. I had fully intended on the basis of equal reviews to go for the Mission by virtue of it being from bass-ported not rear like the Eltax. However I couldn't ignore the fact that the Eltax had a considerably superior definition of bass. It was clearer and smoother than the Mission, which was quite bass-heavy and boomy in comparison. The only drawback is that they are both slightly deeper in size than the Mission and rear bass-ported which means they shouldn't be placed directly against the wall. Notwithstanding this however, they are a seriously class act, can handle 100 watts of power and deliver a depth and quality of sound which, if you're used to compact speakers, will take your breath away....

Joekool 11.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of ELTAX SYNPHONY 8

MAHLER CREATED THIS ON HOLIDAY - SYMPHONY NO.4

Advantages: Varied movements, esp. 1st and 4th. One of Mahler's most popular works.
Disadvantages: 2nd movement a little weak.

...--- INTRODUCTION --- Mahler is classified as a late Romantic composer, producing dramatic scores with large differences in sounds and tone and utilizing many emotions ranging from tragedy and humour to love. Mahler's fourth symphony was first performed in Munich in 1901 and was/is one of Mahler's most popular works. It is described that this symphony was created during an 1899 holiday to the countryside where he would find peace and quiet. However for unknown reasons the tranquility he wanted wasn't present and he feared that the concentration he needed to compose may have left him. It wasn't until he had 10 days left of the trip that inspiration finally grasped him and out of this anxious period came one of Mahler's more happier pieces. Other priorities initially overtook him and it wasn't until his next excursion that he was able...

Puma1000 24.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Mahler: Symphony No 4

GUSTAV MAHLER'S LAST- SYMPHONY NO. 10

Advantages: Embodies some of Mahlers most notable music qualities.
Disadvantages: Unfinished.

...--- OVERVIEW --- There is supersition that Beethoven died before completing his 10th symphony and so too would Mahler. This turned out to be true, at the age of 50 Mahler died from a serious illness. The different movements of his symphony were left unfinished and put aside for many years until in the 1960's a British musicoligist Deryck Cooke recreated them. To what influence Mr Cooke had over the final version I do not know, but nonetheless the music sounds like Mahler and is otherwise enchanting . --- MAHLER --- Nationality: Austrian Musical Period: Late-Romantic Born: 1860 Died: 1911 ' To write a symphony is, for me to construct a world' - Mahler Mahler Symphony No. 10 Tracks 01. Adagio 26:15 02. First scherzo 12:03 03. Purgatorio oder Inferno 04:30 04. Second scherzo 12:15 05. Finale...

Puma1000 13.12.2004 · Read review
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Review of Mahler: Symphony No 10