Search - Gerald Finzi, William Boughton, English String Orchestra :: Finzi: A Centenary Collection

Nice

M. Kaltwasser | 06/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD for the last track. I love this romantic toughing piece. It is just beautiful. And the rest is also very interesting, I appreciate it more each time. I have only recently come to hear "classical" music and this is a nice start. It sounds fresh and quite contemporary."

Recently discovered, long to be lloved

Michael Capizzi | Illinois, USA | 08/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A long-time listener of classical music, but new to Finzi, I discovered Music for Love's Labour Lost while listening to the radio one day and promptly bought the cd. An absolute pleasure. The music is soft and romantic with nunerous quiet interludes which draw you into the music. Boughton and the ESO are at the usual best. The sound is clear.Like most 20th century classical music, this doesn;t reach the heights of Beethoven and Mozart (but who ever did), and it would be hard to build a clasical library with only this kind of music; but if you're looking for something to the pace from Beethoven etal. than this would be one great choice."

Excellent Finzi Collection

J. Rich | 10/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gerald Finzi seems to be a figure in early 20th Century English music that is forgotten or at least in today's times he is for whatever reason. Finzi composed beautifully lyrical music that soothes and heals rather than challenge the listener. You won't be challenged by this music at all, which at the end of a long day is a good thing. That's not to say this music is simplistic, because it's not, it's just very accessible.



Finzi's music touches on the more pastoral qualities of English life. He is perhaps better known for his vocal works, but this collection with William Boughton and his English String Orchestra is a fine addition to your collection even if you have some of these other works on other recordings.



The audio quality is top-notch from Nimbus Records and the playing is remarkable. The whole disc is really good, but standouts for me are the "Clarinet Concerto," "Romance For Strings," and "Love's Labours Lost." Highly recommended.



Checkout these other great Finzi recordings:



Finzi: Nocturne; Severn Rhapsody; Eclogue; etc

Finzi: Love's Labours Lost; Let Us Garlands Bring; Two Milton Sonnets; Farewell to Arms; In Terra Pax

Gerald Finzi: Violin And Cello

Finzi: Clarinet Concerto

Finzi: Cello Concerto; Grand Fantasia & Toccata; Eclogue

Benjamin Britten: Cantata misericordium; Deus in adjutorium meum; Chorale; Gerald Finzi: Requiem da Camera"