Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon U.K.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mostly excellent performances of very interesting music, 27 Dec 2011
By G.D. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Goldschmidt Album (Audio CD)
Berthold Goldschmidt (1903-1996) has, as far as I can see - and despite some strong champions - failed to establish a place for himself among the more significant composers of the twentieth century. It is a little unclear exactly why, for this is thoroughly rewarding music, written in a rather original style even if Goldschmidt's voice is lyrical and conservative for his time; he stopped composing in the 1950s when his brand of mild modernism fell out of favor, taking it up again only in the 1980s with a style that was undeniably influenced by the developments the last decades but still continuous with his older output.The early Passacaglie (1925) resembles Shostakovich in tonal language but predates the Shostakovich works that one would most immediately think of; it is a well-crafted and inspired piece if not an immediately striking masterpiece. The overture to A Comedy of Errors is ebullient, humorous and lively. In the Ciacconia Sinfonica Goldschmidt has obviously found his voice; it is a compelling, craggy, rhythmically alive and tuneful, if astringent work (Hindemith may be a point of comparison). Chronica, which was started in the early thirties but finished in the eighties, is a splendidly textured, rewarding work that again utilizes a slightly spicy neo-classical language.
The two final works stem from the 1990s, when the composer himself was in his nineties. Les Petits Adieux is a beautiful and essentially neo-romantic song cycle with many gorgeous touches. The Rondeau (1995) is a lighter work, but cogently built, delightfully textured and overall very compelling one.
The performances are a little variable. Best are the Birmingham contributions conducted by Rattle (Passacaglia and Ciaccona Sinfonica), which are superb - splendidly articulated, vigorous, rhythmically sharp, and powerful. Kreizberg and the Berlin Opera forces seem slightly more perfunctory and hesitant; they are good at realizing Goldschmidt's often ambiguous textures, but are sometimes a little bit lethargic. The Montreal forces under Dutoit do a good job, and Francois Le Roux is a sympathetic soloist in the songs if he sometimes run the solo lines a little hard. Chantal Juliet is a superb soloist in the Rondeau, and the Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester under the composer is certainly compelling enough if sounding just a tad distanced. The sound quality is good, and overall this disc can be warmly recommended - the music is very rewarding and the performances mostly excellent.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
