"Our friend from Ottawa is correct. This version of Albinoni's Adagio is rather weak. Better is the 1974 version by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (available on "Classical Favorites", Seraphim Classics label). The main reason I bought this CD is the Sonata a cinque in A, performed by the English Chamber Orchestra under Raymond Leppard. The last movement, especially, is just plain straight-ahead happy, and the ECO plays it with joyful intensity."
Very Enjoyable
R. Rockwell | Angwin, CA USA | 04/01/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I agree that the Adagio is not that inspiring. The rest of the CD however is great. The highlights for me are the trumpet concerto and the concerto for 2 trumpets. They are precise, relaxed, and fun. I have several hundred classical CD's and I've listened to this one more than about 90% of the rest."
Buy it just for "Saint Marc"
Scott Taylor | 06/12/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This collection contains an exceptional performance of Albinoni's Concerto "Saint-Marc" in transcription for the piccolo trumpet. The work appears here in the valve-friendly key of B-flat, in comparison to the original key of A for the violin. The work has almost no significance in that instrument's repertoire. The trumpet community has adopted it as its own, and although it is quite a blow on the brass instrument, the work is frequently performed. Jean Thilde did the editing and Maurice Andre has done the beautiful embellishments. He is one of the master's of the instrument afterall, and a great contributor of transcriptions to the trumpeters' library of works. I find the rest of the disc forgettable - but at this price, buy it for Andre's performance."
Maurice Andre is another reason to buy this one
Scott Taylor | 01/20/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In follow-up to my prior review, the San Marco Trumpet Concerto has really grown on me. It's a nice combination of lush harmonies and Maurice Andre's technical brilliance."
Adagio organ sound inappropriate
Scott Taylor | 12/08/1998
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The organ employed for the adagio sounds very weak and lacking any depth or passion - it misses my soul by a mile."