MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN MUSIC

Professor Lependorf's discussion of 14 great works from Vivaldi to Copland is ideal for the symphony-goer who wants to appreciate these pieces more deeply. What lifts this course above most others is Lependorf's technique of directed listening. He speaks over the top of the musical selections, an approach that is helpful in pointing out subtleties that might otherwise zip past listeners. It's just a shame the lectures are so brief--it's one thing to discuss a single Chopin nocturne in 30 minutes but quite another to tackle Berlioz's massive SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE. It's to Lependorf's credit that he, like the composers he brings to life, leaves the audience wanting more. D.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]