Although Mugby Junction is certainly not Dickens at his classic best, Dickens at less than his best is still invariably a very good read and Mugby Junction has much to savour, particularly The Boy at Mugby chapter which takes a wonderful swipe at railway catering. In the same chapter, he aso targets the French (describing France as the land of the frog eaters), which is odd, considering he was a frequent visitor to France and was usually very complimentary.
If you want to get away from the standard done-to-death 19th century classical repertoire, this is a symphony by an almost unknown Viennese composer which I found rewarding listening. If he had not died young, Hans Rott might have become a famous name. His symphony is full of ideas both original and Bruckner/Wagner inspired and the Scherzo is SO Mahler. His finale is perhaps the weakest movement where he doesn't seem quite sure how to wind things up... and somebody should have confiscated the triangle! However, I can't fault either the performance or the recording. At budget price, this is well worth your money.
Dating back to 1972, this is a very welcome release of a classic from the BBC. Largely overshadowed by the BBC's legendary "Elizabeth R" and "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" - also produced in the 1970's, this DVD tells of the reign of Henry the Seventh, who has also been overshadowed in history by his famous (or should that be infamous) son, Henry the Eighth. Surviving endless plots, conspiracies and pretenders to his throne, Henry the Seventh did much to reunite England after the Wars of the Roses and brought much-needed stability to the realm. He was also very economically aware and could have run rings round most modern "financial experts". In this DVD, he is played by American born actor… Read more
