Tír Na HiFi

This is wonderfull music beautifully sung with wonderful sonorities from the mixed choir.

fergus wrote:Sweet playing from Grumiaux.

As always.

En Saga, Pohjola’s Daughter, Valse Triste & Finlandia....Pohjola’s Daughter was a stand-out performance.

This recital was in two parts; the first part was of 17th century music with harpsichord accompaniment and the second half was of 19th century music accompanied on the piano. As it turned out I preferred the second half which I thought was more suited to Janet Baker’s voice.

Lieder eines fabrenden Gesellen....




....beautiful music wonderfully sung by Frederica von Stade and played by the London Phil. Orch. / Andrew Davis.

Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 5....There is quite a nice Mozartian feel to the playing, both solo and orchestral on this set; most enjoyable.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony no. 25
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Claudio Abbado - conducting.

I have now completed listening to this set. I have been enthralled by this music from beginning to end and I found the playing to be mesmerising. The sonatas are relatively short pieces but I found the music to be inventive and very enjoyable. The recorded sound was also very good with the harpsichord being wonderfully caught. Definitely my buy of 2011 so far!

Violin Concerto, Tapiola, 2 Serious Melodies Op.77, 2 Serenades for violin & orchestra Op. 69 and 6 Humoresques for violin & orchestra....The Violin Concerto was very unsentimental and enjoyable and Tapiola had a nice quality of mystery about it. I had never heard the other works before and they were interesting for that; I particularly liked the 2 Serenades.