Search - Andrew Lloyd Webber :: Variations (Mlps)

Aurora classical Variations

G. S. Fazakas | South Africa | 09/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sooner or later there would be an orchestral version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Variations which he composed for his brother Julian and various rock musicians. You must be a die-hard fan to get this version as it is a solely classical arrangement for cello and orchestra. Coupled with their father's symphonic tone-poem "Aurora" it is a lovely and warm disc. The arrangement for the orchestra is well done.Tone colours off course now vary from the various electric instruments used in the original and that's why it only gets 4 stars.The concept behind the original variations was for cello with rock band and the spontanaity of the first disc is somewhat lost. However it is still and excellent recording and should boost the repertoire for solo cello and orchestra much."

Nice recording

Damien Slattery | Dublin, Ireland | 06/24/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The original VARIATIONS instrumentation of electric guitars and 70s synthesisers has not aged well, so it a pleasure to have this symphonic arrangement. The orchestrations by David Cullen are acceptable but never outstanding, one of the original variations has been dropped (not missed) and there is some new counterpoint. Considering Lloyd Webber has claimed VARIATIONS as one of his favourite compositions, it is a mystery that it has not been recorded or re-arranged since this 80s version.

The addition of his father's composition of AURORA is interesting and gives an indication of how the family genes have music in the blood."