Customer Reviews

What Makes it Great? Mozart's Jupiter Symphony

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Rob Kapilow's lecture of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony is very educational and entertaining. Even listeners who are familiar with this masterpiece will find much to learn and enjoy here, and virtually hear it with a new set of ears. Years ago Leonard Bernstein also recorded classical albums with lectures, such as Beethoven's 3rd & 5th symphonies, Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique, and others. They were all wonderful, and hopefully Sony will release them again. It's nice that Rob Kapilow has picked up the torch from Bernstein, I hope that many more installments will follow. Rob, uses both his piano and a full symphony orchestra to illustrate his points along the way. A complete performance of the Jupiter Symphony concludes the CD.

Highly recommended.

I heard Robert Kapilow doing a segment on classical music on CBC radio and then I went on a search for more from him which brought me to amazon and these CD's of his. I ordered them on faith and that faith has been rewarded. I can't sing or play an instrument but I love this music and I was thrilled to learn why I love it. I played one in my car on a trip into the city and I had my son with me. First of all he complained that he wanted to listen to "his " music but I said I needed to listen to this.It is very informative but done in a very entertaining way as well. Plus the music is really great. The next time we went on a trip into the city which takes 40 minutes. he casually asked if I brought the other CD with me so I could force him to listen to the other one too. The funny thing is that even though I consider myself musically illiterate I now am picking up on the reasons why I like this great music when I listen to other pieces that I also just like.

This CD is useful for both the amateur and the professional. Kapilow's insights into Mozart and particularly the Jupiper Symphony have both enlightened and inspired me. The simplicity of his language, the use of numerous excepts of this symphony opened up a new light on Mozart. This is the best thing since Bernstein. I use these ideas in teaching music appreciation.

Jerome Malek

San Antonio, TX