- Jubilee offer: spend £10 or more on any product sold by Amazon.co.uk on or before June 6 and you can buy The Diamond Jubilee A Classical Celebration Album for just £2.50 Here's how (terms and conditions apply)
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
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.
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well, the music critics won't like this one, but if you already know Nigel Hess's music (Ladies in Lavender, Food of Love and all his extensive television work) then you'll know what to expect - great tunes, beautifully orchestrated - and, in this instance, superbly played by global piano virtuoso Lang Lang. This is heart-on-sleeve stuff, and none the worse for that. The slow movement is derivative (Rachmaninov meets the Warsaw Concerto) but this is writing that is immediately accessible, and will appeal to a huge audience. A real treat.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Nigel Hess's piano concerto was commissioned in memory of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: hence the somewhat portentous titles for each of the movements. It is a shame that it occupies a CD all on its own (at under 23 minutes) and it would make an excellent coupling with Howard Blake's, the latter piece having been dedicated to Princess Diana.
Hess is primarily a film music composer, and clearly needed the `hook' of a extra-musical concept in order to get his creative juices flowing, however he wouldn't be alone amongst composers in this. Certainly the concerto itself shows no signs of being any kind of detailed narrative.
If you're expecting a deep and intellectual work, then this isn't for you, but if you value melodic interest and an effective ear for orchestration (i.e. good tunes and a full orchestra) then this concerto is very much for you. Yes, it's derivative in places, but at the same time it holds the attention and isn't afraid of direct communication.
Lang Lang isn't exactly a shrinking violet, and he plays with conviction. The London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Christopher Warren-Green similarly play with passion.
On a less positive note, this is very poorly packaged: It takes more than the soloist to play a concerto- a pity the orchestra and conductor were hidden amongst the small print!!
Hess is primarily a film music composer, and clearly needed the `hook' of a extra-musical concept in order to get his creative juices flowing, however he wouldn't be alone amongst composers in this. Certainly the concerto itself shows no signs of being any kind of detailed narrative.
If you're expecting a deep and intellectual work, then this isn't for you, but if you value melodic interest and an effective ear for orchestration (i.e. good tunes and a full orchestra) then this concerto is very much for you. Yes, it's derivative in places, but at the same time it holds the attention and isn't afraid of direct communication.
Lang Lang isn't exactly a shrinking violet, and he plays with conviction. The London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Christopher Warren-Green similarly play with passion.
On a less positive note, this is very poorly packaged: It takes more than the soloist to play a concerto- a pity the orchestra and conductor were hidden amongst the small print!!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This CD is a delight. If you enjoy romantic piano concertos, like those of Grieg, Schumann, Rachmaninoff and Saint-Saens, for example, you will love this music. Lang Lang is a sensitive and accomplished pianist and you cannot fail to love this work and the performance. Nigel Hess is better known for providing incidental music to TV series but he acquits himself admirably here. The slow second movement of the concerto is entrancing. The only reason I have knocked off the fifth star is that the concerto is the only work on the disc and with a total running time of only 24 min, it's just as well that this CD is sold at a budget price.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A lovely listen.
I'm not a classical buff at all, so look upon this review as a layman's comment.
I heard track 2 "The Love" on Classic FM as I was flicking through the channels and enjoyed... Read more
I heard track 2 "The Love" on Classic FM as I was flicking through the channels and enjoyed... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Andy_A
Simply wonderful
I first heard this piece late one evening on the radio and was captivated by the gentle recurring theme which was played throughout. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Manderley
excellent value
very pleased with the recording i must have saved 50% on what i would have payed at hmv. i knew i wasn't getting anywhere in the shop as the assistant replied after i asked about... Read more
Published 10 months ago by roger
absolutely beautiful
Very romantic, tuneful.
Especially the second movement is sublime.
Yes it would have been nice to have something else on the cd as it is short. Read more
Especially the second movement is sublime.
Yes it would have been nice to have something else on the cd as it is short. Read more
Published 10 months ago by John Smith
Stunning
I really enjoy this piece of music. I have had to keep playing it. Slightly concerned ar the similarity to the Paderewski Piano Concerto
Published 11 months ago by Zelah Bysouth
Nigel Hess does it again
As a fan of Ladies in Lavender, I was delighted to learn Nigel Hess had written a piano concerto. It's as melodic as his film music, and when you learn that it was written in... Read more
Published 20 months ago by alyson43
What`s new
As an ardent Lang Lang fan I gave this,to me,unknown concerto a hearing.It was composed by Nigel Hess,Grandson of Dame Myra Hess,on Prince Charles request, to commemorate the life... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Musicman
First Downloaded Purchase
This was the first time I ever bought music via a download route. I was very impressed and am pleased with it.
MANY THANKS!
Helen Bawden
MANY THANKS!
Helen Bawden
Published on 21 May 2010 by Ms. Helen A. Bawden
Lang Lang - Hess piano concerto
An excellent CD. Quality of sound great. Such a talented pianist.
Service from Amazon second to none
Service from Amazon second to none
Published on 16 Oct 2009 by olsdragon
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
