Search - Michael Nyman, Jonathan Carney, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra :: Nyman: The Piano Concerto; Prospero's Books; On the Fiddle

A superb bargain!

N. Daniele Pietro | Milano, MI Italy | 03/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an invaluable issue whether if you are a seasones nymanite or just willing to get to know the sound-world of this great contemporary composer. About the marvelous Piano Concerto the comparison with the Argo recording is inevitable. If that has a special authority , being conducted by the composer, I think that this recording is, as a whole, best suited to the the essentially romantic nature of the work, thanks to a less fiercely virtuosic pianist and a mellower, more refined sound, while the other one is somewhat tiresome for the ear after repeated listenings. "Prospero's Books" is another reworking of the score but, unlike the one made for the Nyman-Greenaway ddd compilation for Argo, retains the features of the original orchestration of the movie score. I think it's a real gem from the beginning to the end. A couple examples: in "Prospero's magic" you'll find the most perfectly accomplished example of the Nyman trademark style for strings: it's sweepingly propulsive and instantly compelling. In "Cornfield", instead, there are some of the most dreamy, haunting melodies Nyman ever wrote. "On the fiddle" is a three-movement piece for violin and orchestra made up from three different Nyman-Greenaway scores. It contains much beautiful music and its slightly more intimate character balances perfectly the more extrovert appeal of the other pieces. The RPO playing is first-class (especially the strings , so essential to Nyman's music) and the sound is excellent, full and vivid without being over-saturated. This is one of the most satisfying Nyman discs I have."