• click here to return to the homepage •
or 
Home > Categories > Music > CDs > Franz Ignaz Beck - Six Symphonies, Op. 1 review
Franz Ignaz Beck, the greatest of Stamitz's pupils, led a colourful and eventful life. Fleeing Mannheim after fighting a duel with a jealous rival, he moved to Venice. After eloping with his patron's daughter, he finally ended up in France where he lived for nearly fifty years.
Beck's symphonies have long been admired for their inventiveness, startling use of bold harmonies and dramatic intensity. The most striking work in this set is the G Minor Symphony with its powerful, driving outer movements and unsettling Andante.
• New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
• Donald Armstrong
Jones Bar
Heavier Things
Reality
One Day Remains
Live at Brixton Academy
Lads: alive in concert
The Music of Henry Mancini
Live at Fenway Park
Madama Butterfly
African Folktales
High School Musical: The Concert
Cracking Christmas Songs
The Legend of Zelda - Symphony Of GoddessesProduct reviews...
Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 17th of September, 2005
When Naxos records any of their CDs, nothing is ever skimped on. The recording may be of budget price, however quality is of the utmost. The CDs all have clear, well-written notes on the composer, the orchestra, soloists and conductors, in their trademark, clutter-free booklet.
This recording of Beck is no exception to Naxos' recordings and is a welcome addition to their stable. The New Zealand Chamber Orchestra led by Donald Armstrong confidently interprets the scoring for each of the six symphonies by Beck.
Though unfamiliar with Beck, and his counterparts as mentioned in the booklet, written by Allan Badley, Naxos capably introduce his life and works, for the new listener to lesser known composers as enough information for the avid collector of the lesser known composers.
The recording is confident, alluring and irresistible. The music is full of colour and vibrancy, and enough variation in mood throughout the recording that make the hour of listening a roller-coaster of emotion that passes all too quickly. This is an essential recording for anyone with an interest lesser-known music and composers.
Random listing from 'Music'...
From being one of the hottest blues-rock bands of the late-60s to touring with Led Zep to holding the record for the number of consecutive nights at the LA Forum to the first live concert broadcast worldwide to nearly bringing down the Grammys, the life and times of legendary, indefinable rock band Jethro Tull has rarely been dull.
Forty years, 2,000 gigs, 19 albums, 25 members, 20 million sales and a sex-change since a ramshackle ... more...
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"I like to pick up hitchhikers. When they get in the car I say, "Put on your seat belt. I want to try something. I saw it once in a cartoon, but I think I can do it."
Steve Wright
