Search - Pietro Antonio Locatelli, Franz Joseph Haydn, George Frederick Handel :: Musical Evenings with the Captain

Musical soothing of the soul

E. Bennett | United States | 06/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Baroque music since childhood (and I'm not all that old either). But I've only started reading the Patrick O'Brian books in the last few months, since it was announced that my favorite actor, Russell Crowe, was about to star as Captain Jack Aubrey in the Peter Weir movie. I am reading the books in order, and am currently on "HMS Surprise," so what else could be a more perfect accompaniment than this CD? Aubrey is such a multi-layered character, filled with imperfections and bad puns, however he has a great love for music and he plays the violin quite well. Often paired with ship's surgeon Dr. Stephen Maturin on the cello, music is a great release for this sea captain, and the pieces on this CD are fine representations of what Aubrey might have played while on assignment or heard when on land. The selections by Hadyn, Locatelli, Handel, Boccherini and Leclair are pleasant, soothing compositions that are complex and varied enough that they are not redundant, and range from peaceful to nimble. While listening to the CD, I could vividly imagine Jack Aubrey below decks in his cabin and asking Maturin to strike up a tune with him. And then they begin an Andante or an Allegro, allowing Aubrey to set aside his absolutely awful puns and jokes so he can clear his mind and relax. Considering some of the battles he's involved himself in so far in the series, he definitely needs it. Reading his adventures while listening to these charming pieces will relax you as well, and definitely take your imagination to some wondrous places in an era of great change."

Afloat on a sea of relaxation

Peter Mackay | Campbell, ACT Australia | 01/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I like Mozart. I really do, and I used to put on a piano concerto or two over dinner when I had guests aboard.But now I've found the perfect music for a dinner party. Utterly entrancing and relaxing without being too obtrusive. Locatelli is unfamiliar enough with most people that they haven't heard his music, and where they might tune out of Mozart, they listen with an inner ear to the music on this CD.But dinner parties aside, it is also the perfect accompaniment to a quiet evening at home reading and rereading one of the Canon of the Aubrey/Maturin books. I don't need to imagine the music as Jack and Stephen play together in the great cabin of HMS Surprise - I can actually hear it, and it makes a marvellous difference to my enjoyment of the book.I was so impressed that I sent away for the second CD in this series, and I recommend that anybody buying one, buy the other at the same time so as to save on postage. Trust me, you'll buy the second, the first is so good.One minor niggle, and that is the insipid cover art. After enjoying Geoff Hunt's stunning pictures for O'Brian's books, the pedestrian square-rigger sailing over a painted sea looks utterly false.But this is a feast for the ears, not the eyes."

Wonderful and Relaxing

E. Bennett | 06/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My husband talked me into reading the Aubrey-Maturin Series--and I didn't really want to. I read the first one to placate him. I was hooked!!! I read much faster than he does, so it was fortunate that he was about 8 books ahead of me. We lay there in bed every night, each with our latest Aubrey-Maturin tome, and read until we go to sleep. You will be transported to the ship on the sea, in Aubrey's cabin with the two gentleman playing, and it is only a matter of time before Aubrey looks up at you with a twinkle in his eye and says "Ain't we grand!!""