Classical in general

Two Fabulous Works: a Galactic Astrological Concert & a Song with an Unsolved Riddle ----------------------------------------------- I own three different recordings of ‘The Planets’ and two of ‘Enigma Variations’ (and I’ve heard more of both) – and this disc has my favourite version of both! Sir Adrian Boult (1889-1983) conducts both pieces, and he is a fantastic conductor – Holst and Elgar being two composers whose music he directed many, many times. Boult, in fact, was a friend of Holst’s and conducted the world premiere of ‘The Planets’ in 1918! I’ll continue this ...  Read the complete review

This album is perfect when you?ve had a long frustrating day at work. I love to come home and sit down in a darkened room to listen to this. It is packed full of some of the most beautiful classical music around. A large proportion of the 3 CDs is quite well known music, such as 'Nimrod' from Elgar's Enigma Variations, 'The Swan' from Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals, and Grieg's 'Morning' from Peer Gynt. Then there are pieces you will recognise from films, like the theme from Schindler's List (by John Williams), which has one of the most haunting violin melodies I have ever heard, and the theme from 'The Deer ...  Read the complete review

I am a young conductor trying to find my way into the classical music business. I have been conducting for 8 years. I am well respected by musicians, both amateur and professional, that I work with. I currently conduct 2 amateur symphony orchestras and various other types of ensemble. Everyone who sees me and is involved in my hopes and dreams for a career conducting say "go for it, you have the talent and the passion, live your dream". I am female. And here is the problem. I am a woman in what is still undeniably a man's world. Ask yourself how many female conductors you could name, or even better how many have you seen? This is an issue ...  Read the complete review

Because the ticket said something about tenors, I was under the impression that it would be a bit like the actual 3 tenors - lots of opera. I naively trotted along to the Waterfront Hall with my mum and her friend. She had paid for the ticket, so I was prepared to watch without being too critical about quality. That changed. Three Irish Tenors indeed. It was more like 2 Irish tenors, an English bloke, two thirds of a Christian praise band, a technician on a keyboard, a pianoist and a showboat cabaret singer. I want my mum's money back. I first became unwary when I entered the auidtorium, and noticed the cotton candy hairdo's all around. ...  Read the complete review

Incantation and Dance is the perfect tune to listen to if you are trying to get into classical music. It is also a challenge to play, wherever you're sat in the band. It's composer is John Barnes Chance, an American, and was written in the 1960s in Greensboro, Georgia, for concert wind band and a whole pile of percussion. It is made up of two distinctive sections, the haunting incantation where the tune starts in the flutes before passing over to clarinets then the brass before launching into the dance where percussion run wild before the brass section explodes into life and the dance begins. Sycopation and cross rythmns fly about all over the shop from ...  Read the complete review