Reviews - nickc  Click here to subscribe to a RSS feed of new reviews

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The Image of Melancholy - Eike        (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
  March 29, 2014

What struck me listening to this disc is what I could term the affinity of latitudes. Here we are in the northern climes, stretching from Scandinavia all the way to the British Isles, with an ensemble of 2 violins, a viola and violone, lute, two cellos and organ/harpsichord. Track 1, an original ... more
Szymanowski: Symphonies 3 & 4 - Wit      (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
  March 22, 2014

Sybaritic decadence, a sort of whirling dervish of Oriental mysticism so beloved of early twentieth century Europeans, or a last efflorescence of hyper-extended chromaticism before the stern and unbending Schoenberg and his acolytes scythed any wonder or transcendence from music? Even the name ... more
Pettersson: Symphony No. 6 - Lindberg        (6 of 6 found this review helpful)
  March 15, 2014

I first played this disc about a month ago. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my listening life. The last twenty minutes I almost couldn't breathe, it was like life was ending, the universe was winding down as the string skirls wended and wound their way to a beautiful sense of ... more
Mozart, Brahms: Clarinet Quintets - Steffens, Scharoun Ensemble        (6 of 6 found this review helpful)
  March 28, 2008

The two greatest clarinet chamber works in the repertoire, perhaps the two greatest chamber works of either composer. Karl-Heinz Steffens has a beautiful, liquid tone which is just a joy to listen to, and the Scharoun Ensemble are fully equal partners. Unfortunately if you play the Brahms at a ... more
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique - Davis        (10 of 12 found this review helpful)
  March 26, 2008

Like me I suppose a lot of readers had this on CD and bought it to see how much improvement there was in the master tapes. Well there is an improvement, but unfortunately I can't summon as much enthusiasm for the sound as the other reviewers. This was recorded in 1974 and it would be idle to ... more

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