Search - Ildebrando Pizzetti, Stefan Parkman :: Pizzetti: Messa di Requiem; Tre Composizioni Corali; Due Composizioni Corali

This record is attractive and charming!

Pavane | Taipei, Taiwan | 11/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"SO far, there are merely two records of Due Composizioni corali by Pizzetti that I can find in internet. One is this record and the other is in the album "Eric Ericson Conducts 500 Years Of European Choral Music". Because Eric Ericson is a quite famous conductor in the world, I expected this recording very much. And for this item,"Pizzetti: Messa di Requiem; Tre Composizioni Corali; Due Composizioni Corali", because of the critic of mjb49 is not so nice, I suspected if I had to buy this one!

But when I got these two items, the results are out of my imagination! The interpretation of Eric Ericson is too happy, agitated and rough. The texts of Due Composizioni Corali is written by an ancient poet, Sappho. Her poems are sentimental and dedicate. Pizzetti knew this and painted two pictures for her poem by music. I don't think Mr. Eric Ericson followed every transitional point of emotion in this music. However, in this CD, I can feel there are so many emotions in different phrases and paragraphs. As mjb49 told us, the music is deep purple, but he was wrong of the critic of balance. I don't think the choir is poorly balanced. Frankly speaking, the soprano is a little louder than others, but absolutely not as severe as what mjp49 said!!!

In sum, this is a quite nice recording! But why I gave only four stars? Because there are still a few moments I can hear the tone is not correct and the choir corrected themself in the mean time. But the small spots still can't shade the whole sun. If you would like to broaden your chorus music, this record is a good choice!"

Stellar conducting, stunning rep, rough performance

mjb49 | Chicago, il United States | 02/16/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It is great to see these rare gems unearthed. However, the chorus is very poorly balanced, with the women ever overpowering the men. There is little blend in the women's sections. Nonetheless, Parkman draws forth an emotional delivery. If you can withstand the blasting sopranos, this is a wonderful collection of rarely performed works. The music is dark purple, intensely conveying the meaning of the texts."