User Details - andrewb

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Reviews
Found: 18 show all

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 - Manze          (15 of 17 found this review helpful)
  April 22, 2008

The first minute of the symphony immediately distinguishes this recording; at once separating it from most others with a clarity of vision and understanding that continues to the symphony’s end. The famous opening two strokes of the symphony are very precise and sharp, incisively commanding ... more
Schubert: String Quartets Vol. III - Mandelring Quartett        (3 of 4 found this review helpful)
  August 7, 2007

The fascinating and long first movement allegro of this, Schubert’s last string quartet, was probably the only part to be performed in his lifetime, and then only at a private concert. The first known public performance of the entire quartet is not thought to have taken place until more than twenty ... more
Bach: Complete Organ Music - Hans Fagius      (9 of 9 found this review helpful)
  June 16, 2007

This complete collection of Bach’s organ music is an enjoyable and, considering its extremely low price, a recommendable purchase. The recordings were made in the years 1983 to 1989 with the addition of the Art of Fugue recorded in 1999, the transfer to SACD is generally very successful and results ... more
Schubert: String Quartets Vol. II - Mandelring Quartett        (7 of 7 found this review helpful)
  June 12, 2007

A truly delightful performance by the Mandelring Quartet, they give a refined and civilised account of the principal quartet D804 where repeated hearings certainly increase ones pleasure and understanding of the music. Unlike some accounts given by other quartets, the Mandelrings do not over ... more
Shostakovich: Complete String Quartets Vol. 2 - Mandelring Quartett        (7 of 7 found this review helpful)
  May 1, 2007

This recording of the 8th quartet might receive some contrasting views. First of all it sounds beautiful, an adjective I have never applied before to the 8th, terms like intensity, discord, pain, emptiness, agitatation, nervousness, tension, overwrought, even horror might be used but never beauty ... more

 
 
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Discussion: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Moments Musicaux - Lazic, Petrenko
November 16, 2008
The sound quality is good although not Channel's best. The piano is well caught but is more prominent than in other recordings of this work and it does not integrate with the orchestra as well. The bass notes in the opening couple of minutes are particularly noticeable, too much so for me, they sound or are played hard and very dead. Conductor and ... more
Discussion: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Moments Musicaux - Lazic, Petrenko
November 16, 2008
Thank you for your comment about the approach take by Channel. When I listen to music I almost always program the piece I want to listen to, at the end I do not want to be rushing to the remote to press stop or next or whatever, this would offset much of the pleasure of the preceding music. It sounds silly perhaps but knowing that there is applause ... more
Discussion: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Moments Musicaux - Lazic, Petrenko
November 16, 2008
If one has the applause on a separate track immediately after the piece in question then one can choose to listen to it or not: this surely pleases everybody. If one listens to the piece with applause one should notice no break. A few, very few discs have this separate track like, Abbado's Mahler 6 and the recent Strauss Alpine from Jansons. I ... more
Discussion: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Moments Musicaux - Lazic, Petrenko
November 16, 2008
I looked on the Channel Classics web site before purchasing and could not find any mention of it being a live recording. If one opens the Channel home page and then clicks on the link for the Lazic recording I could find no mention, on the page that opens, of it being live. I have now looked again and have found it where you say, presumably it was ... more
Discussion: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Moments Musicaux - Lazic, Petrenko
November 15, 2008
True, but surely there should be some indication from a record company that the recording is live and preferably also whether it has applause or not. Then an informed choice can be made about purchase according to ones preference. I don't mind applause when attending a live performance or even on a DVD but I find it hideous when it ends an audio ... more