Search - Frederick Delius, Norman Del Mar, Bournemouth Sinfonietta :: Delius: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

One of the 'greatest' recordings........of anything

Timothy Mikolay | Pittsburgh, PA | 04/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's been awhile since I've reviewed an album on Amazon....and this will be an easy one.



The sound of a Delius piece is quite unique. From lush impressionistic nuances to simple polyphony, there is nothing like it. Something else unique and unforgettable is this Del Mar reading with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta.



This is not a recording you can enjoy in the car or when jogging. Just sitting back and listening to such exquisite detail is all that's necessary. Del Mar's leadership and the Bournemouth musicians' insights take the listener from broad tuttis to the most subtle and ethereal pianissimi and these are done with such expert execution and passion, it's has been impossible for me to find anything in the CD catalog remotely comparable. The "Irmelin" prelude has no equal and "On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring" is communicated with such incredible depth and color.



Folks, this is not orchestral fireworks. It is however powerful, majestic and of such higher order music making that Chandos can't even forget about it. These performances are nearly 30 years old but are timeless. This is a worthwhile addition to any library."