Classical reviews: December 22
Classical reviews: December 22
Lilburn: Complete Piano Music Vol.4.
Dan Poynton (piano).
Trust 2CDs.
Geoff Adams
The edge of middle New Zealand
The edge of middle New Zealand
Civilisation is the title of journalist Steve Braunias' book, which examines ''20 places on the edge of the world''. This world is mainly ours, from Kawakawa in the North to Mosgiel in the South, with quick visits to Samoa and the Antarctic giving some international dimension.
Classical reviews: November 24
Classical reviews: November 24
> Mahler: Symphony No.1. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Naxos CD. Marin Alsop conducts the US orchestra in this famous symphony - just under an hour's enjoyable listening. The eerie slow...
Every page Dickens wrote was a stage
Every page Dickens wrote was a stage
This year is the bicentenary of the birth of master novelist Charles Dickens, so no wonder much has been published that has focused on the author and his writing.
Latest-generation Tolkien picks crime-thriller genre
Latest-generation Tolkien picks crime-thriller genre
The Inheritance is a thriller novel by Simon Tolkien, grandson of J.R.R.Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings.
Classical reviews: November 17
Classical reviews: November 17
> Asian Music for String Quartet.
NZ String Quartet.
Naxos CD.
Recorded in Toronto's St John's Church, five composers are featured, combining aesthetic and musical elements of East and West.
Classical reviews: November 10
Classical reviews: November 10
> Puccini: "Tosca".
Soloists with Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus.
EMI DVD.
Authoritative view of art investment, with an Auckland bias
Authoritative view of art investment, with an Auckland bias
Geoff Adams reviews 'Behind the Canvas'.
Classical reviews: October 27
Classical reviews: October 27
> Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (highlights). National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Naxos CD.
Classical reviews: October 13
Classical reviews: October 13
>Maxwell Davies: Symphony No.3, Cross Lane Fair. BBC Philharmonic. Naxos CD Conducted by Britain's modernist composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the orchestra conjures up a thrilling seascape...
Classical reviews: October 6
Classical reviews: October 6
> "Rhapsody in Blue". Benjamin Grosvenor (piano), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Decca CD.
Classical reviews: September 29
Classical reviews: September 29
> Delius: A Mass of Life, Prelude and Idyll. The Bach Choir and soloists, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Naxos 2 CDs.
Classical reviews: September 22
Classical reviews: September 22
> Gareth Farr: "Horizon". Henry Wong Doe (piano). Trust CD.
Classical reviews: September 15
Classical reviews: September 15
> Bizet: Carmen. Magdalena Kozena (soprano), Jonas Kaufmann (tenor), etc. Berlin Philharmoniker. EMI 2 CDs.
Classical reviews: September 8
Classical reviews: September 8
> The Romantic Clarinet. Paul Dean (clarinet), Stephen Emmerson (piano). Melba CD
Just a step too far for the incredulous
Just a step too far for the incredulous
As I have not ventured to become a fully-fledged "Discworld" fan (39 books in Terry Pratchett's series so far), I read The Long Earth by Pratchett and British science fiction writer Stephen Baxter with some trepidation. It is touted to be the first in "an exciting new collaboration".
Classical reviews: September 1
Classical reviews: September 1
> Liszt: Wagner Paraphrases. Asher Fisch (piano.) Melba CD.
Classical reviews: August 25
Classical reviews: August 25
> Valentina Lisitsa Live at the Royal Albert Hall. Valentina Lisitsa (piano). Decca CD.
Classical reviews: August 18
Classical reviews: August 18
> Christopher Blake: Angel at Ahipara. NZ Symphony Orchestra strings. Atoll CD.
Classical reviews: August 11
Classical reviews: August 11
> "Beethoven For All". West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (conductor and pianist). Decca 2 CDs