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Track Listings
| 1. Allegro Moderato - Tim Hugh |
| 2. Andante Quieto - Tim Hugh |
| 3. Rondo: Adagio - Allegro Giocoso - Tim Hugh |
| 4. Andante Semplice - Peter Donohoe |
| 5. Molto Grave - Allegro Vigoroso - Peter Donohoe |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the adjectives often used to describe the music of Gerald Finzi, the composer featured on this Naxos disc, is "summery". There always seems to be something of an "is there honey still for tea?" element to it--nostalgic, restrained, slightly melancholy and sepia-tinted. Peter Donohoe's performance of theEclogue (1929) is stylistically spot-on and catches this elegiac beauty with crystal clarity. But the surprise on this disc is the extent to which the other pieces are made to reveal quite another more turbulent and anguished side to the composer as well. Tim Hugh obviously responds to these elements in the Cello Concerto (1955) and gives a passionate performance which is unashamedly bold and confrontational, and the result is all the better for it. The same is also true of Donohoe in the dark-hued Grand Fantasia (1927/1953); he moves from gorgeous lyricism to something more spiky and angry, with coherence and intelligence. Howard Griffiths' conducting is clear and committed, and the Northern Sinfonia sounds on top form. --Warwick Thompson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Why oh why is Finzi so appallingly neglected as a composer when works such as these are available to the concert hall? One can only assume there is some kind of musical snobbery influencing the more academically minded critics to dismiss everyone as minor who isn't Brahms, Schoenberg or Stravinsky. But this is fine music making and one could hardly want for more persuasive accounts of these works. Do you need proof? Then listen to the excellent Peter Donohoe in Finzi's exquisite Eclogue and all will be revealed. This is a work of such simple poetry and hearstopping serenity, Bach-like in its structure initially, until touched, upon the orchestra's entry, quite magically by Finzi's pastoral lyricism. Late night music for reflection and introspection. Very beautiful. No less worthy is the wonderful cello concerto, here given a fine performance by Tim Hugh. How often we hear the Elgar and the Dvorak, justifiably one might add, and yet how unreasonable that this should be so overlooked. Donohoe's rendition of the Grand Fantasia is likewise memorable, and along with the other recordings on this label of the Clarinet concerto, the Severn Rhapsody and the Romance for Strings, these are undoubtedly jewels in Naxos's crown. The recording is excellent and unless you have a heart of stone you could not fail to find much here of lasting worth. The low price is absolutely no reflection of the quality. Do give this a listen.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If Finzi had listened to his friends less, and followed his own musical instincts more, he would no doubt have left a more substantial legacy. As it was he abandoned several large works when they were in an advanced stage of composition. His Violin and Piano concertos being two such pieces. This disc which pairs his most substantial finished work, his Cello Concerto, with works that began life as two movements of his abandoned piano concerto shows us what could have been.
The Cello Concerto is a fine work on a generous scale, 37 minutes long in this recording. It was composed while Finzi was facing death from incurable illness. The First movement is full of disquiet, as if trying to put off the inevitable, the central slow movemen finds some solace and the Final movement has a confident and determined voice. It is the most substantial completed work the composer has left us.
The Eclogue for piano and strings is a radiently peaceful work, it puts me in mind of Vaughan Williams Violin and Orchestra work The Lark Ascending. If you like one you will certainly like the other. Put this on at the end of a stressful day to quiet your soul.
The Grand Fantasia is a bold musical statement. The Piano plays solo for 5 minutes before it is joined by the orchestra. The only dissapointment on hearing these two works is that we cannot hear the full concerto that Finzi planned.
The standard of playing and sound quality are good throughout. Peter Donohue on the Piano - both the playing and recording - is particulary impressive. Another great Naxos disc.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have loved this music for a long time, and still love it. I don't find the Cello Concerto lacking in emotion or quality, as some reviewers have suggested. The themes of the first and second movements are beautiful and the orchestration satisfying, very moving. I love the way Tim Hugh plays (sample his talent on another wonderful Naxos recording, Holst, Invocation for Cello and Orchestra). The last movement is exciting and full of character in my opinion, it often springs into my mind. The Eclogue is extremely beautiful too, wistful and evocative. This is really a must-have for anyone who enjoys music purely for its beauty and feeling, whether or not it is gound-breaking or critically acclaimed. I have thousands of recordings and this is one of my favourites.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent Selection
Finzi's Cello Concerto is considered by some to be his masterpiece. It is certainly his most large scale orchestral work and carries more expressive weight than the Clarinet... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. A. R. Boyes
MP3 download broken
Wonderful music if only I had the first movement!
The MP3 download doesn't work at the moment - hopefully only temporary. Read more
The MP3 download doesn't work at the moment - hopefully only temporary. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2010 by Dr. I. Strachan
Finzi Eclogue etc.
I bought this for the Eclogue, which I love. I also very much like the 2nd movement of the Cello Concerto, but am disappointed with the rest of it. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by John R. Edwards
One English Concerto, and two thirds of another
Finzi's Cello Concerto and the concertante works on this disc show another side to a composer best know for his string works, miniatures, choral writing and songs. Read more
Published on 10 July 2006 by Mr. S. J. Bonsor
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