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
Top of the World Tour - LIVE
Good News for People who Love Bad News
Into the West
Irish Son
Soundtrack: House of Flying Daggers
William Alwyn - Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
Classic Jack LIVE!
All That I Am
Live at Fenway Park
Tokyo Solo
Continuum
Soundboy Rock
El Kindy (Hummingbird)Product reviews...
Members are welcome to post a review. You will need to log in to post yours.
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'...
Responding to the thousands of fan requests since their first ever live shows, award-winning Kiwi opera trio Sol3 Mio have released their first live concert DVD. Filmed at Wellington's iconic Michael Fowler Centre in late September 2014, "Ladies And Gentleman... Sol3 Mio Live In Concert" captures all the magic of the group's amazing live show - the emotion, the humour and the wonder of those three incredible voices.
The DVD ... 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.
"Apathy rules! Well, it would, if it could be bothered to try."
anonymous