Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Superb Offering in Every Way, November 28, 2006
If you like Rossini's String Sonatas or Mendelssohn's String Symphonies, you will immediately appreciate the charmed excellence of both composer and the performers that characterize this entire disc. These pieces are immediately accessible and full of catchy hooks and engaging melodies.
The NZSO Chamber Orchestra blazes their way through the outer movements with exuberant precision and yet the inner movements demonstrate the players' sensitivity and dynamic sense of proportion. The sound is pristine, balanced, and you can almost smell the rosin permeating the aural texture of this fine string ensemble. A terrific listen well worth the price...you will NOT be disappointed!
Carl Stamitz clearly remains underrated and under-recorded. I hope this offering serves as justification for Naxos to keep it coming from the very best of the Mannheim Masters.
More good examples of Naxos' classical gems can be found in the Cello Concertos with Christian Benda as well as in the several volumes of symphonies and orchestral trios by Carl's father, Johann. All of these are very listenable without a single bad moment throughout. So Naxos, how about tackling any of the 50 or so symphonies Carl wrote?
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charming Music by Carl Stamitz, June 20, 2007
A pleasant surprise to find this quite recent release already has 3 kind reviews !
Carl Stamitz was the son of Johann, first director of the famous orchestra at Mannheim, Johann died young and was succeeded by Cannabich, the young Carl played second violin under Cannabich for some years before moving to Paris, where this music, his Opus 14, was published in 1776.
Here we have four of the six Orchestral Quartets played by a small string orchestra, the NZCO Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Donald Armstrong, who have produced a charming program of music for us. I particularly enjoyed no 2, one of the concertante quartets, with the interplay between the obligato violins.
This is easy listening music, but far from trivial, with lovely melodies, cheerful and lively in the outer movements, beautiful lyrical slower movements. I suggest this CD is perfect for peaceful times in front of a fire on winter nights.
This music was new to me, I have been familiar with his clarinet concertos for many years, and with the symphonies of Johann and Cannabich, now I will looking for more Carl Stamitz
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
INTIMATE 18TH CENTURY ORCHESTRA WORKS, January 22, 2007
The works on this disc are some very lovely string orchestra works. I'm sure the reason for them being called "Orchestral Quartets" is that they are rather intimate sounding. Otherwise, to me, they could have been called "String Symphonies". Anyway this is a most beautiful collection of 18th century orchestra works for string orchestra--there are two "Concertantes" that are featured too and they are lovely as well with wonderful violin obbligato.
The NZSO Chamber Orchestram plays most energetically and beautifully. I found this recording very soothing and delightful.
If you want to hear some gorgeous 18th century string chamber orchestra music played exquisitely, buy this disc. After all, Carl Stamitz was from the Mannheim School of composition and the recording is on the Naxos label; therefore, it is at a great price PLUS the sound is great too!
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
~ Johann Stamitz
~ Koji Okazaki
~ Johann Stamitz
~ Francesco Onofrio Manfredini
~ Franz Xaver Richter
by Carl Stamitz 
