Customer Reviews

Classic Stressbusters

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My copy of CLASSIC STRESSBUSTERS is licensed by WARNER UK and made in Germany. Backside of the disc is so faintly printed and the font so fine it's difficult to read at certain angles.

An eight-page insert offers two lists: one is Top Stress Situations (bereavement, divorce, new job, etc.) and the other, Combating Stress (have a hot bath, don't put yourself down, learn to delegate, et al).

Recordings span a 30-year period, 1962-92. All are stereo with excellent dynamics and clarity-- performances uniformly fine. The Rodrigo selection is reminiscent of Ennio Morricone's spaghetti western scores (or vice versa). From its many cinematic treatments, even the most casual listener will recognize Mozart's "Elvira Madigan" theme. Also popular is Beethoven's "Pathétique" sonata.

Pianist Maria-Joćo Pires is widely featured in this set as is conductor Andrew Davis. Flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal is here, as well. Lone criticism: a small chant chorus is too closely miked.

PROGRAM--
[5:52] ELGAR: Serenade for string orch. in E min., Op.20 (larghetto) - BBC Symphony orch. (A.Davis) {1991}
[6:46] FAURE: Élégie for cello & piano in C min., Op.24 - P.Tortelier, cello; J.Hubeau, piano; (A.Davis) {1962}
[10:26] RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar & orch. (adagio) - Monte Carlo Nat. Opera orch. (C.Scimone) {1978}
[4:23] DVORAK: Serenade for strings in E maj., Op.22 (moderato) - Lausanne Chamber orch. (A.Jordan) {1984}
[4:20] BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata #8 in C min. ("Pathétique"), Op.13 (andante cantabile) - M.Pires, piano; (A.Davis) {1977}
[9:38] MOZART: Concerto for flute, harp & orch. in C maj., (andantino) - J.P.Rampal, flute; L.Laskine, harp; Paillard Chamber orch. (J.F.Palliard) {1964}
[6:38] MOZART: Piano Concerto #21 in C maj. ("Elvira Madigan") (andante) - M.Pires, piano; Lisbon Gulbenkian Foundation orch. (T.Guschlbauer) {1974}
[7:27] BACH: Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D min. ("Double") (largo ma non tanto) - Paillard Chamber orch. (J.F.Palliard) {1979}
[4:16] VERDI: Prelude to Act I ("La Traviata") - London Symphony orch. (C.Rizzi) {1992}
[1:57] GREGORIAN CHANT: Liturgy for Holy Week (Palm Sunday: "Hosanna filio David") - (A.Davis) {1987}
[9:25] CHOPIN: Piano Concerto #2 in F min., Op.21 (larghetto) - M.Pires, piano; Monte Carlo Nat. Opera orch. (A.Jordan) {1978}

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 72:49

If you can get past the cover art (the fellow who looks, well, more hypnotized [I'm trying to be kind here: he looks deceased] than relaxed) this is a nice collection. I would not go so far as to say that any of the performances of the more famous pieces have not been done better elsewhere, but altogether, it *is* relaxing to listen to... or in my case, to sleep to. If there is to a prize here, it is Hosanna filio David, which is lovely and all too short.