Mariss Jansons - Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Vivaldi La Porte Delle Muse / Deuter, Waisman, Harmonie Universelle, Vivaldi / Harmonie Universelle / Waisman, Date 01/31/2012, Composer Antonio Vivaldi, Performer Florian Deuter, Monica Waisman, Conductor Florian Deuter, Orchestra/Ensemble Harmonie Universelle, Number of Discs 1. Review InchI cannot say enough goods things about this disc and, though I'd love to spend another 500 words extolling the virtues movement-by-movement in each concerto, I simply say to you, get this and listen. There are, of course, several competing versions of these concertos, particularly by La Magnifica Comunità in the massive boxed set on Brilliant Classics 94056, or Concerto Italiano on Naïve, but to be truthful, those performances, crisp and professional as they are, do not sound like these. You won't hear Vivaldi much more creative than this, or much more creatively interpreted. This is, quite simply, a group of sheer genius.Inch FANFARE Lynn René Bayley

Rwap Raupp / Cyz / Bertok / Bulank / Various - 1000 Jahre Bautzen [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/07/2005

Dmitri Shostakovich composed his first symphony in 1925 as a graduation piece at the Leningrad Conservatory and his 15th symphony in 1971, four years before his death. Perhaps more than the symphonic canon of any composer in history, these works reflect the dramatic historical events of his time, in this case the 20th century and specifically the Russian Revolution, Second World War and Stalinist repression. Besides the symphonies, the cello concertos and piano concertos are also included in this set.