Classic FM Hall of Fame 2000

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
In a way, the biggest surprise about Classic fm's IHall of Fame 2000/Iis that this compilation is not already out there. Or is it? Surely it must be; "highlights" albums are one of the few things that positively Ido/I grow on trees. This millennium tribute to the "thirty greatest ever" reaffirms the good, if somewhat predictable, taste of Classic fm's faithful listeners. IHall of Fame 2000/I comes complete with Handel's "Hallelujah" and Elgar's "Enigma". Mozart`s "Elvira Madigan" is one of many mellow middle movements, as is the soon-to-be-renamed "Out of Africa" Clarinet Concerto. And then there is Grieg's "Piano Concerto" and "Rach 2" to name but a few. One of the "far out" inclusions is Schostakovich "Piano Concerto no.2" (again 2nd movement), and possibly Vaughan Williams' "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" and Bruch's "Violin Concerto No. 1". It is true--"Highlights" can be a great nerve calmer, they always seem to leave you wanting more, don't they? So for those who wish to explore the music more deeply, here are some recommendations of the "Full Whack Hall of Fame", lowlights and all:IHandel: Messiah/I, IGrieg: Piano Concerto/I,IFaure: Requiem/I and IBeethoven: Symphony No.9/I. --IYngvil VG/I

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2000-06-07 rating:
Nice idea...
Only a snob can be aghast at the mere existence of Classic FM. It may be easier to excuse people's protestations at the idea of putting classical music into any form of list (although it is a lot of fun).pWho can really complain when you have, on one album, 30 of the most beautiful and inspiring peices of music ever written. As an adjunct to this is the inevitability of these mesmerising pieces becoming so tired and mundane after their inclusion on every Best Of CD, every car advert, every daily Classic FM schedule!pAnd so the Intermezzo from Cavelleria Rusticana loses much of its beauty and becomes bland and almost self-parodying; Pachelbel's Cannon sounds as uninspired and dull as any modern dance track; and the Planets Suite begs for a karaoke singalong. Most of the composers would be rotating in their graves at more than 33rpm!pIt is wonderful that Classic FM has brought such delights as Shostakovich's 2nd Piano Concerto to (undoubtedly) its widest British audience ever, and it is good to see Allegri's Misere included. However, for the most parts, this is an album of sometimes beautiful, but usually cheap and bland, thrills. It would have been wonderful if it had included a few pieces not instantly recognisable to the average Guiseppe. This does not mean such pieces need be ultra-obscure or wholly lacking in melody. Where is Gorecki's 3rd Symphony, Shostakovich's 1st piano concerto, Bellini's Casta Diva, Tallis's Spem in Allium, Satie's Gnoisiennes etc. Most are played on the station, most featured (lower down) on the list, yet none is included here. No wonder the list is so static!pClassic FM took over the classical music revival in this country started by Kennedy and the three tenors. Now they need to follow it up a bit. More and more people I know, who were originally turned on to classical music by the station, are now switching to Radio 3 (which is no bad thing). The ball is in Classic FM's court to continue our education. With this CD, it's as if we are forced to repeat the year.

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